Berlin dragon boat team in training: On to the World Cup victory in Brandenburg!

Berlin dragon boat team in training: On to the World Cup victory in Brandenburg!

In less than a week, the 2025 Dragon Boat World Championships will open its doors. The coveted event will take place from July 14th to 20th on the regatta course at Beetzsee near Brandenburg/Havel. On the occasion of the last training before this big competition, the ABC club met in Köpenick to optimally prepare for the upcoming challenges. An impressive 300 races and around 3,500 athletes from around 20 different countries are expected, as Berliner Zeitung reports.

But the preparations are not without challenges. Participation in the World Cup costs around 1,500 euros per person, including accommodation costs. Coach and dispatcher Ronald Wollberg also drew attention to the high costs of international competitions, amounting to around 4,000 euros. Nevertheless, the athletes gathered for training are primarily recreational athletes who value team spirit and community. The training requires not only physical fitness, but also harmony and perfection in the team.

Community and team spirit

There is a special sense of community in the atmosphere during training. Anke Wollberg, who has been taking part in international competitions since 2016 and is already a two-time world champion, makes it clear that this sense of community is seen as one of the most important reasons for dragon boating. Marcel Paul, an experienced branch manager with a World Cup background, also emphasizes how much he appreciates the training in Berlin and enjoys spending time together in nature.

In addition, the organizers of the Dragon Boat World Championships have their fingers crossed for all athletes and visitors. This is done not only to make the competition as enjoyable as possible for the participants, but also to celebrate the revival of the dragon boat event in Germany. It has now been 20 years since the first IDBF Dragon Boat World Championships took place on German soil; The World Cup in Brandenburg is now the 17th of its kind, as documented on Drachenboot.de.

A feast for all senses

Last but not least, the experience for visitors should not be neglected. The event is supported by many helpers and a competent team from the Brandenburg Regatta, who do everything in their power to guarantee the success of the championships. A special thank you goes to the mayor of the city of Brandenburg an der Havel, Steffen Scheffel, and the Prime Minister of the State of Brandenburg, Dietmar Woidke, for their essential support. Participants and spectators are warmly invited to let themselves be carried away by the great atmosphere in the city of Brandenburg an der Havel.

By the way, dragon boats have their origins in many different cultures. Originally they were not only used as training equipment for soldiers, but also as a form of honor for poets or even to appease water spirits. Such exciting backgrounds and traditional customs, such as the design of dragon masks, can be experienced up close at events such as the Teamgeist dragon boat event at Maschsee, as mentioned on Teamgeist.com.

So the big dragon boat event is approaching and expectations are high. Preparations are in full swing and the athletes are ready to give their all for their team. It remains to be seen which team will ultimately bring home the coveted titles.