Athletics: An association as a non-murmuring zone

Anyone who expected that the new management of the Upper Austrian Athletics Association (OÖLV) with Roland Werthner at the helm would focus on criticism and various demands at their balance sheet press conference after a hundred days in office, was taught a lesson. The core message was more the joy of a cross-association spirit of optimism, which is manifested in numerous new initiatives.

Even when it comes to the infrastructure or the athletics arena for a high-quality international (open-air) meeting that was missing after the new stadium was built on the Gugl, the association remained a non-critter zone. “We are currently in the process of starting up the indoor meeting in the TipsArena again, for a meeting in summer there would be a lack of resources at the moment anyway,” says Vice President Gerhard Zallinger. The somewhat surprising move from national coach Wolfgang Adler to Switzerland is interpreted more as an opportunity and less as a crisis. Zallinger: “This departure offers the opportunity to sharpen the profile of this position.”

Neo-President Werthner is pleased that 17 clubs are represented on his board. There is a “constructive atmosphere”. There are record numbers of participants in many young talent competitions. Werthner: “It shows that athletics is alive.” The fact that former figureheads such as Theresia Kiesl, Teddy Steinmayr or Patricia Kaiser are involved in a crowdfunding project for athletics is also a strong sign of life.

Mayr’s comeback

There will be a kind of “family constellation” of athletics at the weekend at the all-around championship at the PSV facility in Linz. Verena Mayr will be there at least in some disciplines after a long break from competition.