Image: Colourbox
More than 200,000 people roam around on Upper Austria’s sports fields every day, wash clothes, serve drinks in the canteen or are simply there to provide support. 60,000 of them work in one of the 2,500 sports clubs in Upper Austria. Without these volunteers there would be no club life, no opportunity for the children to do sports. “So many Upper Austrians do more than they have to because volunteering is also a matter of the heart for them,” says Economics and Sports Provincial Councilor Markus Achleitner, enthusiastic about the commitment of so many people.
The good soul of the club
That’s why the OÖN – together with the Sportland Oberösterreich, Life Radio, Tips and TV1 – puts the focus every year on those who make all this possible. Trainer, section head, chairwoman, clothes washer, chauffeur … – or the good soul of the club. The range of activities is large. And every move is important. Gerhard Rumetshofer, state sports director of the state of Upper Austria, knows that too. As an avid soccer player, he has held almost all positions at his home club Bad Kreuzen in the Perg district over the years. “It is an enrichment for everyone to do voluntary work – no matter in which function, you get so much back! The joy when you celebrate a goal or a point together, how you learn to laugh together again even after a defeat “, he says.
Achleitner sees the volunteer award as a “great opportunity to say a huge ‘thank you’ to the volunteers for everything they do day in and day out, for our children and young people, for all the athletes in the clubs”.
Participate – nachrichten.at/ehrenamt
The nomination phase: From today (until August 10th) you can nominate volunteers in the respective districts – it is easiest if an association agrees on a volunteer.
You can find everything you need at nachrichten.at/ehrenamt
The voting: From August 17th to September 10th there is time to vote for the respective candidates – also on nachrichten.at
The prizes: Each district winner receives 1000 euros – the state winners receive another 1000, 500 or 250 euros.
Source: Nachrichten
