Regatta course Oberschleißheim: a bit of renovation – Munich


She meets a tough opponent here on the gravel parking lot. When visiting the site, politicians are often embedded in a cluster of enthusiastic supporters. It’s different on Thursday on the regatta course in Oberschleißheim. Verena Dietl, Third Mayoress, SPD, responsible for sport, meets Willi Bock, functionary, Verein Rudergesellschaft München 1972, responsible for the needs of water sports enthusiasts on site. A press conference in which the two have slightly different goals: to leave the impression that Munich is taking care of the decaying complex (Dietl), to elicit as far-reaching promises as possible from the guest from the town hall (Bock). One thing becomes clear at the beginning of the ascent: Both are masters of their disciplines. So what else can Bock Dietl elicit?

Bock comes up with a few numbers. A total of twelve clubs use the 82 hectare facility, including eight water sports clubs. The usage can also be clearly seen on this warm Thursday. A group of children is running around kayaks that are about to be launched, a lady from university sports gives instructions to a rowers, a group of three graying men are taking a break on the water in the boat, several teams of two are on their way to the other end, the start of the Racetrack, 2300 meters from the finish. “We have 1,100 boats here,” says Bock, pointing to the boat halls that were built for the 1972 Olympic Games, were then to be demolished and are still in use today.

That is the basic problem of this beautiful facility: too much is still original in 1972, right up to the grandstand, which, like the entire area, is now a listed building and may no longer be used at all for fire protection reasons, among other things. And now the European Championships are coming up in 2022, where rowing will also take place here.

And it’s about the money – it’s Dietl’s turn. The city of Munich is responsible for the site, which has been redeveloped for many years. The last time there was a decision was made in autumn 2019 that even Willi Bock would have been satisfied. The plant should have been modernized for 61 million euros in the first construction phase, for 40 million in the second. There is currently only one toilet available and the entire first floor above the boat halls has been closed for fire protection reasons for five years. Corona came in 2020, the renovation was initially completely canceled before the city currently wants to invest nine million euros in order to make it look good at the championships and to be able to keep it as a sports and excursion destination. For this purpose, footbridges, toilets and the five-kilometer circular path are now being renewed.

“To the boats,” the rowing coach calls out to the children. The discussion is between Bock and Dietl. For Munich’s sports mayor, the matter is relatively clear: you have to do something, that’s why she’s there. The city is responsible for popular sport, says Dietl, the state for competitive sport. And so that the system, which is not only frequented by boaters, but also by day triathletes and inline skaters who drive and run on the path around the water, remains usable, the city is now paying nine million euros.

Bock wants more, he wants competitive sport, he needs office space and accommodation for training camps and international competitions. Dietl has nothing against this either, but “the city cannot do this on its own”. She will soon have talks with Bavaria’s Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann and the Mayor of Oberschleissheim. “Everyone has to contribute,” says Dietl – and means paying.

Bock leads them around, leaves no shortage out. Dietl nods and says: “We won’t duck back.” In the end, the two of them get into a rowing boat for the photo. That is of course a beautiful picture, everyone in the same boat. The only question is whether everyone is rowing in the same direction.

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