For the water polo players from Waspo Hannover, the Champions League will start again in a few weeks. But the energy crisis could throw a spanner in the works for the club – because the water temperature in the indoor pool at home was too low.
Bernd Seidensticker is a man of stature. The president of Waspo Hannover wears a leather jacket and a flat cap when he unlocks “his” public bath Limmer. The outdoor pool in Hanover-Limmer has been there for almost 100 years, idyllically situated in the middle of the linen meadows. In 1993, the water polo players from Waspo Hannover celebrated the German championship here – in front of over 2,500 spectators.
“I now trust the city with everything. Then we could only play away from home, that would of course be a scandal.”
— Waspo President Bernd Seidensticker
A total of twelve German championship titles and six cup wins are in the vita of the club from the Lower Saxony state capital. There are also 173 games on the international stage. In the coming season, the Champions League will again be at the start, in the league they want to defend the title – against their closest rival Spandau 08. “Spandau already thinks they are champions, but they have to dress warmly,” says silk sticker.
One degree less would mean the end
However, it is uncertain to what extent a regular season can be played at all in the coming months. In winter, Waspo plays its home games in the Stadionbad am Maschsee – a municipal indoor pool. The problem: In order to save energy during the crisis, the city decided to lower the water temperature from 26 to 25 degrees for the time being. “If we have the Champions League games and have to do it at 18 degrees, then that wouldn’t work,” emphasizes Seidensticker.
Stadionbad Hannover, playoffs final game 5 Waspo 98 Hannover – Wasserfreunde Spandau.
The end for the Waspo home games in the water polo “premier class” could occur much earlier. Because according to the regulations of the Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA), the umbrella organization of all national swimming federations, the water temperature during competitions must not be less than 26 degrees – plus/minus one degree. Means: one degree less and no more international water polo games could take place in the stadium pool.
City of Hanover does not rule out further restrictions
When asked by NDR, the city of Hanover announced that lowering the pool water temperature to 20 degrees, for example, is currently “not realistic”. In any case, the guidelines of the Pools Coordination Group (KOK) would recommend a minimum water temperature of 24 degrees. But: If the energy crisis worsens further, further restrictions in the indoor pool cannot be ruled out, according to the city.
Seidensticker’s confidence in politics is low: “I now trust the city with everything. If someone came up with the idea of simply not heating the water anymore. Then we could only play away from home, that would of course be a scandal.”
Seidensticker: “The costs are getting higher and higher”
The Champions League home games are not Waspo Hannover’s only problem. The exploding energy costs are causing great concern for the whole club: “We’re doing it here for little money,” says Seidensticker, “but the costs are getting higher and higher.” The club also needs money for the renovation of the Limmer outdoor pool, where the pros train and play in the summer.
“If we don’t get support, these clubs will collapse. That would be the big catastrophe.”
— Bernd Seidensticker
The bathroom is getting old, the floodlights have not worked for a long time. There is a subsidy of just under 100,000 euros from the city of Hanover. “It’s nothing for an outdoor pool,” says Seidensticker. A new request for assistance has just been denied.
Politicians are planning aid for sports clubs
Politicians want to respond to the existential concerns of sports clubs. The state of Lower Saxony is planning an aid program worth 100 million euros for culture and sport – but only after the election on Sunday. “As a public sector, we have to ensure that clubs – like other areas – survive this time,” Interior Minister Boris Pistorius told NDR. Words that Seidensticker would like to hear, because his stance is clear: “If sport isn’t supported, then I see black for our society.”
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sports club | 09/25/2022 | 10:30 p.m
