Week kickoff at Warnemünde - Schwesig commends sailing venue - Week commenced in Warnemünde - Schwesig applauds sailing venue
The picturesque coastal town of Warnemünde, located in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, is currently hosting the Warnemünde Week - the largest sailing sports festival in the region. This annual event, which attracts over 800 athletes and approximately 600 boats, is not only a celebration of sailing but also a showcase of Warnemünde's potential as a venue for the Olympic sailing competitions.
The Warnemünde Week, which runs until July 13th, offers a varied programme that extends beyond the waters of the Old Strom. Visitors can enjoy a range of land-based activities, such as beach rugby, beach handball, concerts, readings, films on the beach, and the traditional "Niege Umgang" procession. The highlight of the final weekend will be the dragon boat festival, scheduled to take place on the southern Old Strom.
The town's ideal sailing conditions, with stable wind, a straight coastline, and little current, make it an attractive location for both competitive sailing and tourism. These factors, combined with its broad sandy beaches, have earned Warnemünde a reputation as a premier sailing destination.
Rostock-Warnemünde is actively involved in Germany's bid to host the Olympic sailing competitions for the 2036, 2040, or 2044 Olympic Games. Alongside Kiel, it is considered one of the promising sailing locations. However, Rostock-Warnemünde is currently trailing behind Kiel in terms of exclusive support. While cities like Munich, Berlin, and Rhine-Ruhr have left the choice open between Kiel and Rostock-Warnemünde as potential sailing venues, Hamburg has officially committed to Kiel alone as its sailing location partner in its Olympic bid.
Despite this, Matthias Fromm, Tourism Director of Rostock and Warnemünde, emphasised the popularity of the Warnemünde Week as a tourist attraction, attracting a significant number of day-trippers. Approximately 700,000 spectators can watch the races at the Warnemünde Week directly from the beach each year.
The state government, the state sports association, and the Hanseatic city of Rostock are committed to ensuring that Mecklenburg-Vorpommern becomes part of Germany's Olympic bid. Minister President Manuela Schwesig (SPD) praised the sailing location of Warnemünde, highlighting its potential to attract both athletes and tourists.
As the Warnemünde Week concludes with the dragon boat festival, the eyes of the sailing world will be on Rostock-Warnemünde, hoping to see it secure a place in the Olympic Games. The final national decision on Germany's candidate is expected by the end of 2026.
[1] [Bundesregierung](https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/news/deutschland-kandidiert-fuer-die-olympischen-spiele-2036-1773276) [2] [Sport-Bund](https://www.sport-bund.de/olympia/olympia-2036-2040-2044-deutschland-will-olympia-spiele-hosten-10454766) [3] [Deutsche Welle](https://www.dw.com/en/germany-bids-for-2036-olympic-games/a-57293804) [4] [Deutsche Welle](https://www.dw.com/en/germany-bids-for-2036-olympic-games/a-57293804)
The Commission has also been informed of the progress made in the implementation of the Warnemünde Week's sports-centric programme, which includes beach rugby and dragon boat races. The popularity of the Warnemünde Week, a notable sailing sports festival, has been underscored by the significant number of day-trippers and spectators it attracts annually.
