Olympic regatta course: The myth comes to life again

Created: 08/12/2022, 08:58

By: Nico-Marius Schmitz

One of the fairest and best systems in the world: here the Germany eight in the lead.

© dpa

Things are getting international again on the Olympic regatta course – and then everything continues to rot away?

Munich – The Olympic regatta course in Oberschleißheim is international.

Danish fans whistle deafeningly as “their” boat races across the water.

A little further down, a couple in leather trousers sit next to two women wearing a Team Ireland t-shirt.

Finally international flair again, many think.

The facility seemed increasingly lost in recent years, international races have not taken place here for a long time.

The European Championships with the rowing and canoeing competitions bring Oberschleißheim back into focus.

The system never had it easy.

For a long time there were considerations to demolish everything again after the 1972 Olympic Games.

Back then, 45,000 people cheered on the legendary "Bulls' Foursome" with Hans-Johann Färber.

The Munich Rowing Society 1972 e.

V. was founded – and has been committed to maintaining the facility ever since.

Around 300 people are sitting in the stands on Thursday.

Not on the original 1972 which is permanently banned for fire safety reasons.

In this area everything looks run down, cobwebs on the press seats of 72, the tables are slowly falling apart.

A mobile grandstand was set up for the European Championships.

Willi Bock, chairman of the rowing society, also sits here.

“The people who decide on the system don't even know what's going on here.

You have no idea what this system can do,” says Bock.

The facility is one of the best and fairest in the world.

There are almost no wind disadvantages on the tracks here.

National teams regularly prepare for competitions here.

Four rowing and four canoe clubs train on the 82-hectare facility.

The area is used for mass sports, and this is where world champion Oliver Zeidler, European champions and numerous German champions train.

And yet the city doesn't seem very interested in preserving this Olympic (and actively used) legacy.

In 2019 there was still talk of a major renovation.

60 million should have been raised for the modernization in a first step, then another 40 million.

Then Corona came - and all plans were gone.

"The city council canceled all of this overnight without notice," says Bock: "The city hasn't invested in maintenance for 50 years and let the facility go to waste."

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Thanks to the European Championships, there has now been at least a partial renovation, for around 10 million.

The dilapidated footbridges were renewed, including the winner's footbridge.

After all, there is no longer any concern that the future European champions will have to go swimming here at the ceremony.

"It's a shame how the sport is treated here," says Bock.

Munich was awarded the 2024 Rowing World Cup, but was unable to meet the conditions.

The mobile grandstand is to be demolished again after the championships.

Why?

Nobody can answer that exactly.

It gets loud when Oliver Zeidler wins his lead after initial difficulties.

Sister Sophie-Marie also started on Thursday, cheered on by grandpa and trainer Hans-Johann Färber.

A weekend as a family celebration for the Zeidlers.

Heino, father and trainer of Oliver, tells our newspaper: "We are proud and happy that he can compete here on the facility.

It's our living room.

Of course we are here to defend the European Championship title.” Bock hopes that the European Championship will open the eyes of the decision-makers: “We need a renovation so that international competitions can take place here again.

This is not a paddling pool.”