The running and endurance sports club LAC Eichsfeld from Thuringia has been awarded the “Great Star of Sports” in Gold 2023 for its “Guide Network Germany” initiative.
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz presented the most important award for social commitment by sports clubs in Germany together with the President of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), Thomas Weikert, and the President of the Federal Association of German Volksbanks and Raiffeisenbanks (BVR) Marija Kolak on Monday (January 29, 2024 ) in Berlin. LAC Eichsfeld will receive prize money of 10,000 euros.
Guide network Germany for blind and visually impaired people
The registration and placement portal “Guide Network Germany” helps blind and visually impaired people find a guide to do sports together – a tool that is currently unique in Germany. Blind and visually impaired people who are looking for a guide can register in the network. At the same time, guides who are ready to lead while running or walking are registering.
700 guides for blind and visually impaired people registered
Since its launch in May 2021, the network has enabled almost 250 blind and visually impaired people nationwide to find companionship. Around 700 guides from all over Germany are now registered and are available for placement. Since last year, Alpine skiing and Nordic skiing have also been included in addition to walking and running. An expansion to include swimming and cycling is also planned.
Recognition and respect from the Federal Chancellor
Chancellor Olaf Scholz said: “Our society lives from those who are committed to sport in clubs – above all from the volunteers. They are the foundation. They do great things! So my request to all those who are committed: stay that way! Keep inspiring more! We need you!”
“Club sports in Germany are alive”said DOSB President Weikert in view of the more than 1,100 clubs that applied with their special commitments. “The 17 finalists for the ‘Stars of Sport’ are just the tip of the iceberg – they all deserve the utmost respect and a huge thank you.”
“The ‘Stars of Sport’ are an inspiring example of the sustainable combination of sport and social commitment from the center of our society. Sport promotes respect, hard work and recognition. Values that we need in our society more than ever.”said BVR President Marija Kolak.
Turn-Klubb Hannover and BSG Fire Department Hamburg also received awards
The decision about the national victory in the “Stars of Sports” 2023 was made by a jury of experts chaired by DOSB Vice President Kerstin Holze. Behind the LAC Eichsfeld, the jury chose the Hanover gymnastics club in second place. The club from Lower Saxony was awarded prize money of 7,500 euros for its initiative “Hannover Swimming Offensive – a region learns to swim”.
Third place and 5,000 euros went to the BSG Fire Department Hamburg. The TFA division of the company sports association, the “Toughest Firefighter Alive“, had applied with the commitment “Commitment to the rescuers of the fire brigade: public relations and maintaining and expanding operational capability”.
A total of 17 clubs – each as winner of the “Great Star of Sports” in bronze at the local level and the “Great Star of Sports” in silver at the state level – had the chance to win gold. The 14 other finalists share fourth place and are looking forward to prize money of 1,000 euros each.
Audience Award also to Eichsfeld in Thuringia
The audience award also went to a person from the national winner’s club: Juliana Löffler from LAC Eichsfeld in Thuringia received the award worth 2,000 euros for her commitment to the “Guide Network Germany” initiative.
Sebastian Bubner from SG Eintracht Peitz from Brandenburg was voted second. Third place went to Lars Haupt from SV Ludwigsdorf 48 from Saxony. You can look forward to prize money of 1,000 or 500 euros.
The “Stars of Sports” competition has been honoring exceptional social activities in sports clubs every year since 2004. For the 20th time, worthy initiatives from areas such as education and qualifications, promotion of volunteer work, health and prevention, equality, integration and inclusion or climate, nature and environmental protection were honored at the “Stars of Sport”.