To mark the start of Kiel Week 2023, boot Düsseldorf and the German Sailing Association (Deutscher Segler-Verband, DSV) are announcing their support of Ukrainian sailing. At a meeting on Saturday evening in Kiel-Schilksee/Germany, Messe Düsseldorf’s CEO, Wolfram Diener, and the President of the DSV, Mona Küppers, informed the President of the Ukrainian sailing association, Rodion Luka, about their plan.
From 26 October, the date of admission for boot 2024, exhibitors of the fair, manufacturers and dealers, but also private individuals, are called upon to support the Ukrainian sailors with material or money. At the meeting, Rodion Luka reported on the devastating extent of the destruction caused by the war and thanked Messe Düsseldorf and the DSV for the appeal to support his athletes. At present, he said, there is no thought of restarting the sport in the Ukrainian sailing centers on the Black Sea, among others, but the sailors hope that the war would end as soon as possible and that the new Olympic season could start in 2024.
Wolfram Diener asks the exhibitors of boot to participate with donations of materials: "The Ukrainian sailors simply need everything for their sport - ranging from ropes to entire sails or from oilskins to sailing shoes. Used equipment is also very welcome". Mona Küppers adds: "Together with the Ukrainian association, we are compiling a list of materials in which the required equipment is listed in detail. And of course, financial donations are also needed. Above all, so that the clubs can finance training trips to other European sailing areas. I very much hope that we will see Ukrainian sailors competing in the Olympic sailing regattas off Marseille next year." The DSV will set up a donation account to support the Ukrainian federation.
Petros Michelidakis, Director boot Düsseldorf and initiator of the support, wants to show solidarity among the sailors with this initiative: "We want to help our sailing friends in the Ukraine. In concrete terms, it is also about rebuilding sailing homes, marinas and clubhouses. And in January 2024, we will invite ten Ukrainian young sailors and their coaches to boot."
Kuehne + Nagel is also on board, providing storage space as a logistics partner and taking care of the transport of the material to Ukraine from February 2024.
In addition to this important humanitarian cause, there has been also a long-standing friendship and an anniversary to celebrate on Saturday evening. boot Düsseldorf and Kiel Week have been partners for 30 years and since then, every year in June, the blue boot flags have been flying in the fjord wind, there has been a boot lounge on the mile in Schilksee and the well-known German meteorologist Meeno Schrader has been announcing his daily sailing weather forecast on behalf of boot. In June 1993, the Düsseldorf fair organizers, represented by their long-time boot Director Abdul-Rahman Adib, and the Kiel Yacht Club signed the partnership agreement. Every year in January the friends meet at the popular Kiel get-together at boot and the Düsseldorfers are one of the main sponsors of Kiel Week in June.
Photo 1: boot and German Sailing Association (Deutscher Segler-Verband DSV) support Ukrainian sailors: Messe Düsseldorf CEO Wolfram Diener and DSV President Mona Küppers announce support for the Ukrainian Sailing Association at Kieler Woche 2023.
Photo 2: boot and German Sailing Association (Deutscher Segler-Verband DSV) support Ukrainian sailors: Petros Michelidakis hands over the coordinates of boot Düsseldorf to Rodion Luka (from left to right: Mona Küppers, Rodion Luka, Petros Michelidakis)
Photo 3: 30 years of partnership boot Düsseldorf and Kiel Week: Abdul-Rahman Adib, former Director of boot, Dirk Ramhorst, Head of Organization Kiel Week Regatta, Petros Michelidakis, Director boot Düsseldorf, Wolfram Diener, CEO Messe Düsseldorf, Dr. Hauke Berndt, , Chairman Kieler Yacht-Club, Robert Marx, President of boot Düsseldorf, Burkhard Hintzsche, Director City of Düsseldorf, Sven Christensen, Managing Director Point of Sailing (from left to right)
