ADV Elefantencup – Drachenbootfestival Berlin-Gatow

Sport and Purpose on the Havel Riverbank

The Wassersportheim Gatow is located on the westernmost stretch of the Havel, at the transition between the federal capital and the Brandenburg landscape. For years, the Anti-Drogen-Verein e.V. has hosted its dragon boat festival here, which has long since grown beyond pure racing.

The Elefantencup – A Moving Trophy

The namesake is the bronze elephant, which is presented to the winning crew each year. Participants can include non-profit organizations, Berlin club teams, school classes, government teams, and private crews. The boats are provided; each team needs twelve paddlers, a coxswain, and a drummer. Training takes place on Saturday, racing on Sunday.

Festival Atmosphere Alongside the Races

While the boats race across the Havel, a small but dense program runs along the bank: live music on an open-air stage, street food stalls, Berlin beer garden atmosphere, stands of the ADV's prevention and counseling projects, a family area for children. Those not in the boat can stay by the water all day and enjoy the sun, bratwurst, and competitive cheers.

The Mission Behind the Sport

The ADV has been a central player in addiction support in Berlin-Brandenburg since 1981, based in Moabit. Its dragon boat events originally started as a 25th-anniversary celebration and have developed into an annual tradition. The motto "Accept – Differentiate – Connect" becomes tangible in the festival context: people from different backgrounds sit in the same boat.

Gatow – An Outpost of Berlin

The district of Gatow belongs to the Spandau district and is located on the western edge of Berlin. The British military airport was in operation here until 1994; today, thatched roofs, the village center, Havel views, and water sports clubs characterize the scene. The Wassersportheim is one of Berlin's traditional sports venues on the water, operated under the auspices of the Spandau Office for Schools and Sports.