Wheelchair fencing championship, techno yoga, dance classes and "Rostock sings": Land program events to watch and participate in.

Visitors can witness an exciting premiere at the Hotel Neptun on July 11th and 12th: For the first time, a parallel event will take place there. Warnemünder Woche The International German Wheelchair Fencing Championships are being held. An international field of 35 to 40 para-athletes is expected. Athletes from the Baltic states, Finland, the Balkans, and Poland have already registered to compete for the titles in foil, sabre, and épée alongside numerous German participants. Most of the athletes will compete in at least two weapons.

The top favorite is German para-fencer Maurice Schmidt, who won the gold medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, marking the greatest success of his career so far. "We are delighted to welcome a top athlete like Maurice Schmidt to the International German Championships in Warnemünde," says Reno Tiede, Managing Director of the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Association for Disabled and Rehabilitation Sports (VBRS MV). He also sees good chances for the young up-and-coming fencer Alea Wesemann from the Rostock area, who was already on track for a medal at the 2025 German Championships.

That the championship, which last took place in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in 2015, will be held this year as part of the Warnemünder Woche The timing is no coincidence. "We deliberately chose the date for the Warnemünder Woche We made this decision because we hope it will bring more visibility to para-sports. We are very pleased to be part of the Warnemünder Woche "to be," said Tiede.

Wheelchair fencing is one of the core sports at VBRS MV and has been a Paralympic discipline since 1960. Para fencers compete in three different classes, categorized by the degree of disability. Category A includes individuals with intact trunk muscles and no limitations in their fencing arm. Athletes in Category B have functional limitations in their back and abdominal muscles, which affects their balance while seated, but no limitations in their arms or hands. Fencers in Category C have limitations in their trunk area, and the functionality of their hands and arms is impaired.

The difference between wheelchair fencing and Olympic fencing lies in the fact that the athletes do not move around the piste, but are fixed to the ground in their wheelchairs. The distance between the wheelchairs depends on the athletes' height and arm length, as well as the weapon category. The rules of wheelchair fencing largely correspond to those of Olympic fencing, including the target areas for the different weapons. In foil, the entire torso is a valid target; in sabre, the arms and mask also count. In épée, only hits above the hips count, not the entire body as is usually the case.

The International Wheelchair Fencing Championship will take place on Saturday, July 11, from 11 a.m. to 20 p.m. and on Sunday, July 12, from 10 a.m. to 14 p.m. in the Amber Hall at the Hotel Neptun. Spectators are welcome at all times. Admission is free except for the final matches. A limited number of tickets for the finals on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon will be available on site. Cheerleaders and a DJ will provide entertainment on Saturday evening, and the hotel restaurant will offer snacks and drinks.

Participatory activities: Techno yoga, dance classes and "Rostock sings"

Those who do not just want to watch, but want to become active themselves, have two other program items at the 88th Warnemünder Woche Ample opportunity to do so. For the first time, a Techno Yoga session will be offered at the Strand Arena Warnemünde. On Monday, July 6th, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm, participants can expect a mix of movement to driving beats, dance, and relaxation through guided yoga exercises at Kali Ananda Techno Yoga with a DJ. The 90-minute session offers a blend of more athletic Vinyasa flows, calming Yin Yoga, Hatha Yoga asanas, and a final relaxation. The combination of yoga and club atmosphere loosens both body and mind. No prior experience is necessary. Participation is free. Please bring your own mat.

Furthermore, following the successful premiere of the format last year, there are four more opportunities during the Warnemünder Woche Learn to dance under expert guidance. The following free dance classes are on the program at the Teepott: Tabéalo – Salsa course (July 5th, 2 pm to 4 pm and July 10th, 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm), Swing Connection Rostock with live band “Swingerstreet 4” (July 7th, 6 pm to 9 pm) and Mila's dance class for children (July 10th, 3:30 pm to 5 pm).

Another participatory event also involves music. On Saturday, July 11, there will be singing on the central pier at the WIRO lookout point, when WIRO presents "RoSi – Rostock Sings" there again from 18 to 19 p.m. Admission is free, as it is for the WIRO request films at the same location on July 10, 11, and 12, starting at 20 p.m. each evening.