Water Sports &
Berlin-Grünau

Dear friends of water sports,

Together with the District Mayor of Treptow-Köpenick, Oliver Igel, I am delighted to have taken on the patronage of the 9th Berliner Wassersportfest.

Grünau is one of those places that has shaped sport in Berlin for generations. Standing at the historic regatta course, you immediately feel the special bond between our city and the water. Sporting history has always been written here. The Olympic rowing and canoeing competitions of 1936 made this site known far beyond Berlin. To this day, the regatta course is a flagship of Berlin sport whose appeal reaches far beyond the city limits.

At the same time, Grünau is a place of the future. Top-level sport and grassroots sport, tradition and innovation, achievement and community all come together here. That mix is what defines Berlin sport as a whole — and is why Grünau is also a powerful symbol for our BERLIN+ bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. We show that Berlin makes the difference through unique sports venues, dedicated clubs and a vibrant sports culture.

The Berliner Wassersportfest brings all of this diversity to life again this year in a very special way. For three days, sport lovers, families and visitors from near and far come together to discover water sports or simply to enjoy the unique atmosphere at the regatta course.

The varied programme promises top-class entertainment — from the opening regatta on Friday and the Thundercat race on Saturday to the impressive DLRG rescue drill on Sunday. Hands-on activities also invite you to take part. Perhaps they will spark a new passion for water sports in some of you.

My warm thanks go to everyone who makes this event possible: the organisers, the many clubs and above all the countless volunteers. With great commitment, you all ensure that Berlin remains Germany’s sporting capital — a city in which community, enthusiasm and youth development are lived every single day.

I wish you all an exciting Berliner Wassersportfest, inspiring encounters, fair competitions and many unforgettable hours in Grünau.

Photo: Die Hoffotografen GmbH

With warm regards, yours

Iris Spranger

Senator for the Interior and Sport

Dear water sports enthusiasts,

From 26 to 28 June, the historic regatta course in Grünau will once again become a stage for sport, encounter and enthusiasm: the 9th Berliner Wassersportfest invites you to experience the diversity of water sports up close.

For more than 150 years, Grünau has been a centre of water sports — the first boats took to the start here back in 1868. At the Wassersportfest, this long tradition combines with a modern, open format: competitive sport meets hands-on activities, club life meets family programme, sporting ambition meets relaxed summer days at the water.

My particular thanks go to the many clubs, volunteers and organisers who make this festival possible with such great commitment. They show how alive and varied sport is in Treptow-Köpenick — and how important community spirit remains for our district.

I warmly invite you: come by, try something new, cheer on the athletes and enjoy the special atmosphere at the Langer See.

I wish the 9th Wassersportfest exciting competitions and all visitors unforgettable days in Grünau.

The Berliner Wassersportfest at the historic regatta grandstands in Grünau combines sport, movement and shared experience in a very special way. It brings together people of all ages and invites families, children and young people to discover the diversity of water sports and to become active themselves.

Young people in particular benefit from the experiences that sport conveys: team spirit, fairness, a sense of responsibility and perseverance. Those who train together, master challenges and celebrate successes gain important skills – far beyond sport itself. That is why it is so valuable that the Berliner Wassersportfest offers not only competitions and demonstrations, but also numerous opportunities to try things out and take part.

Berlin thrives on the commitment of its clubs and the many volunteers who give children and young people access to sport. Their dedication is what makes events like this festival possible and strengthens the sense of community in our city. My heartfelt thanks go to all the organisers, the clubs and associations, and the many helpers.

I wish the Berliner Wassersportfest many enthusiastic visitors, exciting encounters, unforgettable experiences and a successful event for everyone involved.

Photo: SenBJF/Koroll

Yours,

Katharina Günther-Wünsch

Senator for Education, Youth and Family