The event sets new standards for environmentally conscious sporting events and creates an unprecedented bridge between sport and culture.
Grafenegg (OTS) – Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler, who is responsible for both subject areas, is also impressed by the project: “This festival is a shining example of how we should move forward as a society. Sport knows no borders and no barriers, and I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the implementation of this remarkable initiative.
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“sportKULTUR in the Wolkenturm – big stage in SPORTLAND Lower Austria” is the largest voluntary sports culture festival in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion (OF THE) in Austria, which after the Green Event Guidelines of the Austrian Ecolabel will be held in the beautiful Grafenegg Castle Park at Pentecost.
Last year, Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner was a personal guest and praised the event team, a small recreational sports club from Fels am Wagram. Loud SPORTLAND Lower Austriawhich is also eponymous and supporting on board this year, counts “This sporting event is one of the most attractive sporting events in the Danube region and also contributes to stimulating the economy and tourism in the region
“.
A stage for everyone
Daniela Soykan-Tober, former ORF sports presenter, emphasizes the importance of “Sport for everyone“. “Sport and inclusion must go hand in hand – this should already be normal in our society,
” she says. “sportKULTUR offers para athletes the recognition they deserve with disciplines such as disabled basketball and para darts.
” Soykan-Tober will host the event on a voluntary basis on a tournament day. The Firefly Club, a DJ group for mentally handicapped people, is also booked again to provide musical accompaniment.
Hosting a tournament for 3×3 wheelchair basketball requires good planning and new ideas for solutions. “Barrier-free access isn’t difficult, but converting an auditorium for an entire basketball team and fans is in a league of its own
“, also knows Monika Stolze, management consultant and chairwoman of USC Fit am Wagram, who and her team are putting hundreds of hours into organizing the event again this year. But she is no longer alone – Isabelle Roche, also a single mother, works as a volunteer Member for the first time this year. The lawyer, professional speaker and most recently worked in business development for the business magazine Sheconomy, is still passionate about the issues Diversity, Equity & Inclusion a.
LH deputy, Udo Landbauer, also appreciates the event: “This event combines culture and sport as important pillars of a well-functioning society. Sport is an important driver of health and exercise culture in our country. Inspiring children and young people in particular to play sports is a top priority in our sports strategy.
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Great support is also coming from the WKO specialist group for personal advice and personal care, which is the main sponsor of the event because it is aware of the importance of sports science advice in top and competitive sports. “Sports science consultants provide motivation and support as experts in the field of sport and exercise. As competent companions, they help to make the training professional, safe and goal-oriented and provide the necessary motivational boost if one is needed.
“, says Mag. Edith Bierbaumer, MBA, professional group spokesperson from Lower Austria.
Sporting diversity
At the games of Austrian Championship have Austria’s best players 3×3 wheelchair basketball the opportunity to recommend yourself for the squad and the European Championships, which will take place again in Vienna at the end of August.
„3 on 3 is a compressed format. The game is over after 20 minutes. Accordingly, things get down to business right from the start. After a minute, we players were already sweating from head to toe. There are no breaks, the strain on the body is high
“, says Austria’s captain of the national wheelchair basketball team, Matthias Wastian, summing up the “enthusiasm for 3×3”.
In the championship, the team of the series champions, Coloplast Sitting Bulls, goes into the race as defending champions and favorites. But the FlinkStones from Graz and the Dolphins from Vienna also want to have a say in the title this year.
International reach
For the first time, the sport of darts is also represented – and this is also international and inclusive: in cooperation with Austrian Darts Association will be one every day international world ranking tournament with a total of 23 competitions. These include not only youth competitions and U23 competitions for young adults, but also a category over 55 (seniors) and, for the first time on Austrian soil, 4 ParaDart competitions: 2x wheelchair darts and 2x “standing”, approved by both umbrella organizations World Darts Federation and World ParaDarts. Dipl.-Ing. Dietmar Schuhmann, President of the ÖDV, co-initiated and took the lead in planning the project on the darts side: “We expect many players from Austria and beyond to attend this Austrian Darts Festival in order to give the event additional international flair and diversity. The goals of our association and those of the event also fit together perfectly in the area of inclusion and so we are very happy about 4 different ParaDarts competitions this weekend.
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Together, Stolze and Roche are now trying to raise additional financial resources for infrastructure and external service providers. For sponsors, sportKULTUR offers interesting opportunities not only regionally but also internationally to get involved in the area Diversity, Equity und Inklusion to position.
Sociopolitically relevant topics “need an auditorium, a stage to become visible,” adds motivational artist Dieter Kalt (professional player and former captain of the Austrian national ice hockey team) about the sportKULTUR project. The organizers have also come up with a lot in the cultural area the Engabrunn Music Association as well as one Jazz-Bigband Rock classics at their best. Guests can also relax in one evening Documentary “Let Me Fly” be inspired. “Tut Gut” and the region’s fire departments are on site with hands-on stations and that Bio-Catering from the food truck leaves nothing to be desired. It’s worth a look free entry!
Questions & Contact:
Tickets: https://my.weezevent.com/sportkultur2024
Project sponsor: USC Fit at Wagram
Implementation partner: Zweihorn GmbH
Press contact: Monika Stolze, MSc
E-Mail: presse@sportkultur.at
Tel: +43 650 9786240
Photo gallery 2023: www.sportkultur.at/fotogalerie/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/sportkultur.at/
Sponsor deck: https://www.sportkultur.at/sponsoren/