PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE OCCASION OF THE 29TH GERMAN OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS

The GOC's responsible persons invited representatives of press, radio and television to a press conference in the run-up to the 29th German Open Championships. The press conference was held at the Weinstube Jägerhof of vineyard Peter Mayer, one of the GOC's sponsors. Due to the good weather and the enjoyable temperatures the press conference took place outdoors.

Managing director Harry Körner provided information about the facts and figures of the GOC. "I have information, some is slightly bad and some is slightly good", he started his explanations. The registrations from Russia declined, Körner added. The exchange rate ruble-euro has dropped so drastically that some Russian couples can' t afford to take part in the GOC. One-third less registrations from this country, 125 couples, which accounts for approximately 400 starts, the GOC is missing this year. Registration numbers are about 4,500 in 2015, which is fewer than last year, but still a very good status of registration. "We have a much better stand than the other organizers with 300 to 350 starts", he further explained. If the registration numbers stabilize themselves around 4,500 in the next years one can be pleased.In contrast to this the ticket sale has been phenomenal. 

"The Beethovensaal is sold out on Friday and Saturday, for Tuesday through Thursday scattered tickets are still available. This hasn't been the case up till now", Harry Körner was pleased about the demand.
"The city is one of our most important partners", Wilfried Scheible, CEO of the GOC and president of the dance sport association of Baden-Württemberg, reported. Naturally, fewer couples mean less income. One can be happy about the financial help of the city, which by now supports the GOC with 95,000 €. One hopes that support for the GOC will also find a place in the next biennial budget, so the CEO further said. "Our calculation works, also due to the city of Stuttgart", he further explained.He also referred to another important partner of the GOC. "The new main sponsor is Swarovski", he declared. Swarovski sponsors not only the GOC, but also the whole GrandSlam-Series of the international association WDSF. Given the good ticket sale, the consideration is made that the ticket sale for the 30th German Open Championships in 2016 will start in November.
Katrin Kerber, the newly-elected president of the German Rock' n'Roll and Boogie Woogie association, reported about the sportive prospects at the three world championships in Boogie Woogie. She related in detail about the qualified German couples and their possible chances at the championships. "We have couples taking part in all three world championships", she told. The association has lost high quality couples due to job and studies; other couples have been set back by injuries. The team around national coach Leo Beck is confident that their protégés may not have chances for the win, but for the final. She explained that a new judging system for Boogie Woogie is being worked on. "Judging focusses on acrobatics very much, but Boogie Woogie has much more to offer and is more complex", so the president. First results in this area will be provided in 2016.
"The standing of the GOC with the German association is extremely, extremely high", Heidi Estler, president of Tanzsport Deutschland and vice-president of DanceSport Europe, began. This can also be perceived by the fact that the Verbandsrat (association' s council), one of the highest committees of Tanzsport Deutschland decided after its general meeting to assign the German Open Championships until 2024 to Stuttgart. The GrandSlam competitions also have a very high importance, so the president continued. "All of the world's top couples are competing in Stuttgart", she remarked. This shows the importance of the competitions in standard and latin for the couples.Heidi Estler also enhanced the significance of the city for the GOC. "You may write this", the president of Tanzsport Deutschland requested of the attending journalists.  The city of Stuttgart is an important partner and sponsor of the GOC. Without the financial support of it the execution of the event would not be possible. She also referred to the new judging system Judging 2.1, which changes the format of the GrandSlam competitions and the international championships, and to the newly changed frameworks concerning the "kiss-and-cry-corner". " This just has been to long in the last year", she justified the further development, which shortens the final for dancers and audience.The president of Tanzsport Deutschland and vice-president of DanceSport Europe also presented the new offer of the GOC "two wheelchair competitions are taking place at the Alte Reithalle on Saturday", she explained and reported about the great enthusiasm of the wheelchair dancers to present themselves in such an ambience. She thanked the GOC's steering committee, which made the execution of the competitions possible. Heidi Estler also pointed out that Dr. Thomas de Maizière, Germany's minister of the interior resumed the patronage again. To the regret of the president of Tanzsport Deutschland there won't be a live broadcast from the GOC. "Now I have to moan a little", she said in view of the SWR's consent to air a summary of both GrandSlam competitions on Sunday evening. As a conclusion Heidi Estler referred to another aspect in connection to the GOC. "The GOC are very important for the national and international communication", she emphasized. Throughout the whole week meetings and conferences are arranged, the committees of Tanzsport Deutschland are meeting and the course for future cooperation with the international associations is set.Finally, the president spoke of the first general meeting of DanceSport Europe in Granada (Spain) in June of this year. There she was elected by the delegates of the 31 member states unanimously and without a rival candidate. DanceSport Europe was founded during the 28th German Open Championships 2014 in Stuttgart; Tanzsport Deutschland is a founding member. 
The athletic side of the GOC was represented by Marius-Andrei Balan / Khrystyna Moshenska (Schwarz-Weiß-Club Pforzheim). They are the German champions in Latin-American dances. Marius-Andrei Balan talked about the changed conditions and the preparation, which has been modified to fit the Judging 2.1 system, for the GrandSlam Latin competition.
The 29th German Open Championships start on Tuesday August 11, 2015 at 8:30 a.m. with competitions in Beethovensaal, Hegelsaal and Alte Reithalle.