Kiel-Sailing City

KIEL.SAILING CITY-this is the brand name that the capital city of Schleswig-Holstein is using for its application to host the Olympic sailing competitions. If the Federal Republic of Germany is chosen as the venue for the Summer Olympic Games in 2012, Kiel plans to become the Olympic sailing city for the third time after 1936 and 1972. As home to major events, such as the finish of the Volvo Ocean Race Round the World and Kieler Woche, the world's biggest sailing regatta, Kiel is the natural partner for the sailing section of every German Olympic campaign. In addition to the modernisation of the existing sailing facilities at Kiel-Schilksee, which have proven their worth for numerous international regattas, the promotion of mass sport, particularly sailing, is a vital aspect of the KIEL.SAILING CITY application. Accordingly, the city on the Baltic Sea has set itself the target to give all school pupils in Kiel the chance to learn how to sail in the course of their school years.

The project has enjoyed an extremely successful start. In only one sailing season, the Olympic Office Kiel - in cooperation with sailing clubs and the sailing centre of the Christian-Albrechts University in Kiel - has implemented a large variety of projects and been able to introduce 3,000 children and young people to sailing. No matter whether on open cutters and modern yachts or in short regattas with Olympic medal winner and KIEL.SAILING CITY Ambassador, Dr. Rene Schwall, the SAILING KIDS were filled with enthusiasm for the sport. Schools and sailing clubs have signed sailing partnerships. Furthermore, the Olympic Office set up a sailing camp on the banks of the Firth of Kiel as part of the "Newspaper at School" media-teaching project of the Kieler Nachrichten local daily newspaper and the Sparkasse Kiel bank Here, 700 pupils learnt not only about the theoretical aspects of Kiel's Olympic application but also the practical differences between windward and leeward, going about and jibing and sailing close-hauled and downwind. The activities will be continued next year. With the support of the main sponsor of the Kiel Olympic campaign, the e-24sieben/Stadtwerke Kiel power company, a permanent SAILING KIDS Camp is being set up on the Kiellinie promenade. Here, children and young people will have the chance to go sailing from spring to autumn.

Kiel's application to host the Olympic sailing competitions in 2012 is supported by prominent personalities from the worlds of sport, business, science and politics. The Honorary Chairman of the Board of Trustees is Prof. Berthold Beitz, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach Foundation and Honary Member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The Chairman of the Board of Trustees is Dr. Klaus Murmann, a local businessman and Honorary President of the Federation of German Employer Associations. Internationally renowned ambassadors with Olympic sailing medals represent KIEL.SAILING CITY on public occasions: Amelie Lux (Surf Silver 2000), Dr. Rene Schwall (Tornado Bronze 2000), Dr. Jorg Diesch (Flying Dutchmen Gold 1976), Achim Griese (Starboot Silber 1984) and Heiko Kroger (Paralympics Gold 2000).

All there is to know about the various activities of KIEL.SAILING CITY, Kiel's ambitions for 2012 and the complete application brochure can be found on the internet at www.kiel-sailing-city.de.