Vienna (OTS/RK) – Today, Tuesday, Vienna’s Governor and Mayor Michael Ludwig presented the Silver Medal of Honor for services to the Republic of Austria to the former member of the Vienna State Parliament and member of the Vienna City Council, Franz Karl, in the town hall. In addition to family and friends, numerous political guests of honor were also invited to the Red Salon. The Atmos Quartet provided the musical accompaniment.
In his speech, Ludwig credited Karl with an “impressive track record” in politics. He has been very involved in a wide range of tasks, activities, offices and achievements in his career. The mayor of Vienna particularly emphasized Karl’s commitment to “sport for the disabled”. The promotion and support of people who do sport under special conditions is an essential part of Franz Karl’s life’s work, says Ludwig. The honoree has always been committed to providing athletes with the financial basis they need to pursue their passion and deliver good performance. “In doing so, Franz Karl made the extraordinary the norm,” said Ludwig. “Because everyone who plays sports deserves our full attention, our enthusiasm and our respect.”
The mayor of Vienna went on to say that the term “bridge builder” fell short for Karl. Rather, he described the honoree as a “maker” and “designer of a new world”. In countless conversations, negotiations and meetings, Karl worked to ensure that everyone can lead as unrestricted a life as possible. Among other things, Ludwig referred to the fact that Karl demanded that the city of Vienna make the public transport sector more accessible to people with disabilities. City boss Ludwig also mentioned the abolition of discrimination against women in disabled sports on Karl’s initiative.
The laudation for the honoree was given by former politician, manager and author Bernhard Görg. Franz Karl then thanked Karl for the high award.
To person
Franz Karl was born on April 16, 1943 in Klosterneuburg near Vienna. After studying mathematics and physics, Karl dedicated his life to politics. As an “original of local politics”, he was, among other things, a member of the Vienna State Parliament and a member of the Vienna City Council as well as chairman of the Dog Commission. For his services, Karl received, among other things, the Golden Medal of Honor for Services to the State of Vienna and was also appointed Honorary President of the Austrian Sports Association for the Disabled. (End) cr
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