Sport

Promoting young athletes in high performance rowing

In keeping with the tradition of the Opländer family, the Wilo-Foundation has been supporting young rowers at the Dortmund base for generations.

Europe

Germany

Dortmund

Funding period: 2012-2028

The improvement of training conditions, training camps and team-building measures are the focus of our U23 youth development for the German Eight in Dortmund. With training scholarships as well as rent or relocation cost subsidies, the young up-and-coming rowers are to be given the opportunity to advance their own training or studies in addition to focusing on competitive sports in Dortmund. In addition, the funding includes the provision of team clothing, the assumption of participation fees in competitions and the awarding of performance bonuses to reward outstanding sporting successes.

The Wilo-Foundation’s education scholarship, and the security it provides, enables me to stay focused. So I can give everything: in rowing and in my studies.

Sven Achterfeld, U23 rower, Dortmund Rowing Centre

In addition, some of the athletes regularly organise rowing camps for pupils at the Dortmund Rowing Centre. With the support of the Wilo-Foundation, the City of Dortmund also hosts the annual City Rowing Championships on Lake Phoenix in Dortmund-Hörde.

Winning pupils of the annual "Student Eight Cup" in Berlin are allowed to train for a day at the Dortmund Rowing Performance Center together with the German Eight. Photo: Deutschland-Achter GmbH, Dortmund

More than in any other funding area, the Wilo-Foundation’s activities in the field of rowing are deeply rooted in the tradition of the Opländer founding family. Dr.-Ing. h.c. Jochen Opländer has been supporting top rowing athletes for decades – like his grandfather Louis and his father Wilhelm before him.

Photo Header: Deutschland-Achter GmbH, Dortmund

Our funding partner

The Dortmund Rowing Centre has been the training centre of the German Eight since the mid-1980s. Around 50 elite athletes from the national A team and the U23 team train here. The D8er e.V. promotes rowing at the Dortmund location across all clubs. On the Dortmund-Ems Canal, athletes can row for 12 kilometres without having to turn their boat. When they are not on the water, rowers train in the gym and the weight room of the Dortmund Rowing Centre.

Development Goals

The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) forms the global framework for action for socially, economically and ecologically sustainable development. Our funding commitment also supports these sustainability goals. With this project, we are making a contribution to achieving the following SDGs:

What are the SDGs`?