For companies, clubs, schools and districts: all of Graz challenges each other with the “StepsApp” during the sporting year

Movement is always possible, even in lockdown times there can be no excuses: The “StepsApp” is intended to motivate and move the population of Graz over the next few months. On March 1st, the starting shot for the sporting year "Let's Go Graz!"

The beginning of the Graz sports year is getting closer and closer. On March 1st, the sporting program for ten months will be opened, from this day on the focus will be on sport in this city. "We want to motivate the whole population to take part and thus make Graz the sportiest city in Austria," says the City Councilor for Sports Kurt Hohensinner (ÖVP) the direction of march. Above all, he emphasizes the importance of movement in everyday life: “Everyone can move more every day. You can cycle more often, walk more often, take the stairs more often and not the lift. There are enough examples, you just have to do it. With the sports year, we not only want to present great events in a wide variety of sports, but above all also increase awareness of more movement and sporting activity. That is a very important goal of the entire initiative. "

Also for FPÖ club chairman Armin Sippel The sports year 2021 is a particularly important initiative: “The sports year should be an initial spark. We want the people of Graz to become more active, sportier and thus also healthier. At the end of the year, we want to join the 'Global Active Cities' network and continue on this path for the future. ”For both politicians it is clear:“ We want to get Graz moving, not just this year, but sustainably. We already set clear goals in our 2030 Sports Strategy. For example, by 2030, 20 percent more people in Graz should be physically active than today. The sports year should be the launch vehicle for this development, ”said Hohensinner and Sippel.

Of course, the corona crisis that has been going on for a year and its provisions also leaves some question marks in the planning for the sports year. One thing is certain: “Let's Go Graz!” Will begin on March 1st, because everyone can move alone or with sufficient distance.

There is great support in the form of the "StepsApp". This is a simple step counter that was specially expanded for the Graz sports year. More than a million people worldwide use the digital tool every day, which was developed by the two Grazers in 2016 Gunther Marktl and Wolfgang Bartelme Founded. "In the sports year it will be possible for the first time not only to count your own steps, but also to measure yourself against other people," explains Marktl, "I am sure that this will motivate many people to exercise more."

Four challenges will start on March 1st: the business, club, school and district challenges. Schools, companies and clubs have the chance to compete against each other. After registering by email (to [email protected]) a separate account is set up and a link is sent. This link can then be forwarded to potential participants. From then on, every step is counted for the company, the school or the club, and the current status and position in the challenge can be called up every hour. The fair thing about it is: "It doesn't matter how big the school, the company or the club is, the average performance of all participants is always taken into account," says Marktl. The five-man painter's business has the same chances of finishing at the top in the final accounts as huge corporations.

The specially developed “District Challenge” will be particularly interesting for Graz. The 17 districts of Graz compete against each other. The app will be activated on March 1st and you can register for your residential district - or select the district you want to participate in. Every step really counts, regardless of whether it is taken on the way to the coffee machine or on the 20-kilometer run. At the end of the year, the “most active Graz district” will be determined. Markus Pichler, Program Coordinator of the Sports Year, also reveals: “In the course of the year even more challenges will be available, we are also thinking of special challenges for groups of friends, for example. But we don't want to reveal more at the moment. I am sure that the StepsApp is definitely an ideal tool - for those who are hungry for exercise and for everyone who wants to become one. "

In addition to the StepsApp, the Sports Year website (www.letsgograz.at) also other digital helpers to be active in Graz. Among other things, a separate sports map was activated today. It summarizes numerous sporting offers of the city clearly in a map. From the district sports fields to running and cycling routes to hiking trails. The first sports year activities are already noted on the card. “We want to make the unbelievably wide range of the sports city Graz even more visible. The first version of the map is online as of today, but it will be continuously adapted and expanded in the coming weeks and months, ”concludes Hohensinner.

Almost 200 projects and events from 150 Graz clubs are now listed in the program of the sports year. Every single event would be worth presenting - but a very special project should be mentioned here as a representative for all of them: the “7 Summits of Graz”. “Movement in everyday life is very important to us. This idea in particular shows how creative our clubs and sports fans are - and how easy it is to implement a physical activity, ”explains Pichler. What it's about: The people of Graz should hike the seven most striking and highest points in Graz. A target photo on each “summit” is uploaded to a homepage and can either be released for publication or only serve as proof of the “ascent”. Anyone who has reached all seven “summits” takes part in a raffle and receives a certificate from the city of Graz as a “summiteer of Graz”. The seven “peaks” are Schloßberg, Fürstenstand, Schöckl, Platte (Stephanienwarte), Lustbühel (satellite station), Buchkogel (Buchkogel viewing platform), St. Peter and Paul.

ÖVP sports councilor Kurt Hohensinner, FPÖ club chairman, local councilor Armin Sippel,
ÖVP councilor Marion Kreiner, StepsApp founder Gunther Marktl,
Program coordinator Markus Pichler (from left) - Photo: City of Graz / Fischer