2023-09-16 13:25:44
LH Mikl-Leitner: 30,000 volunteers in the sports union make Lower Austria a lifeline
St. Pölten (OTS/NLK) – This Saturday, the Lower Austria Sports Union invited people to the “Club der Goldenen” volunteer gala in the Z2000 event center in Stockerau. State Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner, Sportunion Lower Austria President Raimund Hager, Sportunion Austria President Peter McDonald and Sportunion state manager Markus Skorsch as well as Bishop Alois Schwarz thanked the volunteers for their work and honored long-standing members.
“Sport is a very important part of our lives that keeps us fit and healthy. With a lot of sport, we can also stay healthy in old age and enjoy old age,” said State Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner and further said: “Sport has done its part to ensure that you are still fit. When I went in I met a lady, Ms. Margit Schieder, 98 years young, 46 years of volunteer work and a few years ago she won the silver medal. She is a great role model for us.”
The “Oldies and Goldies” have made an incredible difference in Lower Austria, which is why she is proud that over 30,000 volunteers support the sports union and make it a lifeline in Lower Austria. The Sportunion has over 200,000 members in over 1,000 member clubs in 573 communities. “That’s something to be proud of,” said the state governor. Every investment in sport comes back many times over, so it pays off to invest in sports facilities and volunteer work. “None of this would be possible without the volunteers,” she emphasized and combined it with the promise: “We will continue to be a good partner to the sports union.”
Sportunion Lower Austria President Raimund Hager said that the Sportunion Lower Austria is the largest sports association in the country and that he was particularly pleased to welcome more than 300 recipients of the Golden Medal of Honor today: “Without you we would not be here today, without you the social structure would be and the community in the communities is not like that. Without you, the people in Lower Austria wouldn’t be so fit.” Sportunion Austria President Peter McDonald was proud of the regional association: “You have created a legacy, each of you has been an official for more than 25 years, many for more than 40 years.” He also thanks the state, because “there is no federal state that does as much for culture and sport as Lower Austria. No sports club was left in the lurch during the crisis.”
“Those who work voluntarily live longer. This has been statistically proven,” said diocesan and sports bishop Alois Schwarz. He would like to thank everyone who is involved as officials and the parents who support it. Sport creates so much in terms of togetherness and atmosphere. Sportunion state manager Markus Skorsch led the volunteer gala and was able to welcome over 300 club officials for over 25 years of voluntary work in the Sportunion. University professor Markus Hengstschläger from the Medical University of Vienna spoke in his keynote speech regarding “Genes – Opportunities – Talents”.
The deputy mayor of Stockerau, Martin Falb, said that “sport and Stockerau are best represented in the Sportunion.” Stockerau has 16,000 residents and around 140 clubs, 80 of which are sports clubs and the Sportunion is in this “very rich club landscape with more than 1,100 members by far the biggest player.”
Leopold Schlogger from the Sportunion Hollabrunn and a long-time member of the state management, as well as Birgit Fürnkranz-Maglock, who has been with the Union Swimming Club Krems since 1996 and a member of the state board of the Sportunion Lower Austria, were awarded the Sportunion Golden Medal of Honor.
Questions & Contact:
Office of the Lower Austrian State Government
State Office Directorate/Public Relations
Philipp Hebenstreit
02742/9005-13632
presse@noel.gv.at
www.noe.gv.at/presse
1694870828
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