Opening concert ties in with “100 years Warnemünder Woche" at
The theme “100 years” Warnemünder Woche“ was also present at the festive opening concert in the Warnemünde church last night. Fittingly, an excerpt from a work by Mendelssohn, which was also performed in the Warnemünde church in the summer of 1926, formed the prelude to a concert evening that musically reflected the Warnemünder Woche agreed.
"Much has changed in the last 100 years, almost everything actually: technologically, politically, and socially. But there are also constants, such as..." Warnemünder Woche "This proves it. Sailing was already taking place here 100 years ago," said Ulrike Döring, Head of Office. Warnemünder Woche at the Rostock & Warnemünde Tourist Information Center, in her welcoming address. The core of the Warnemünder Woche The shared experience has remained essentially unchanged for 100 years. It's about people coming together, competing in sports, marveling together, applauding, and taking home wonderful memories. "100 years Warnemünder Woche “They tell precisely this story. Of people who have taken on responsibility over all this time. Of volunteers, clubs, athletes, musicians, partners and sponsors – and of countless guests who bring the event to life in the first place,” said Döring, highlighting the great commitment of the volunteer Warnemünde Week crew.
The opening concert also contributed greatly to the shared experience. The church's excellent acoustics provided outstanding support for the powerful voices of the Warnemünde choir and the Mecklenburg Chamber Soloists orchestra under the direction of Cantor Sven Werner.
Olympic flair in the whale bar
Several Olympic medalists were on stage yesterday for the panel discussion about the Olympic bid. Also speaking were Stefanie Drese, Minister for Social Affairs, Health and Sport in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and Steffen Bockhahn, Rostock's Senator for Sport. The discussion was moderated by Heiko Lex, advisor for sports clubs and the Olympic bid for the Hanseatic and University City of Rostock.
Canoeist Ramona Portwich (1988 gold / Seoul, 1992 silver and gold / Barcelona, 1996 gold and silver / Atlanta), diver Annika Walter (silver / 1996 Atlanta), and long-distance runner Hansjörg Kunze (1988 bronze / Seoul) shared their experiences and impressions of the Olympic Games. They emphasized the immense importance of the Olympic Games for athletes – especially when they are held in their own country. Diver Annika Walter anticipates a "gigantic impact on Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania" if the Games, including the sailing events, were to be held in Warnemünde. Kunze, who has been president of the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Athletics Association since 2022, sees the Olympic Games as the most valuable brand from a sporting perspective, one that is definitely worth fighting for as a host city. A successful bid for the Olympics would mean worldwide attention for the region.
Stefanie Drese, Minister for Social Affairs, Health and Sport in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, also emphasized the great importance of the Olympic Games for a country. From a sports policy perspective, the Olympic Games naturally hold the greatest significance imaginable. "These are the world games of sport. All the top athletes meet there for the Olympic Games. Having something like this here in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, in Rostock, is of course also a good opportunity from a sports policy perspective, not only to show that we are capable of this, but also to demonstrate that it is worthwhile to train for an event, from grassroots sports to elite sports," said Drese.
The conclusion of the Olympic talk was very positive: sailing is in the DNA of Rostock/Warnemünde with a top-class sailing area, sailing that can be experienced firsthand and convincing sustainability aspects such as the Olympic Village on a cruise ship.
