The Graz Sports Year has started: The "Month of Everyday Movement" is intended to activate and motivate everyone!

Let's go Graz! Let's Go Sports Year! From the city lights, billboards, advertising pillars, flags and some buses, the brightly colored subjects have been shining for a few days. The Graz Sports Year 2021 has officially opened. Sports Councilor Kurt Hohensinner resolved today in the presence of the children's mayors Leah Poldrack and Luis Margreiter as well as the Special Olympics dance athletes Regina care and Joachim Lampel the first tickets for the Schloßberg Challenge. They were the first to go up the Schloßbergstiege to get the pictures up at the photo point. “After mayor Siegfried Rush is in quarantine, Lea and Luis have taken on this job, "smiles Hohensinner. Nagl sent a video message for this and emphasized: “I am very happy that the sporting year has started. We have big plans and politically agreed to put sport at the center. "

The COVID-19 situation means that the sports year also required certain adaptations in the program. But that doesn't make March any less exciting - on the contrary. It already started this week with the “Let's Go pick-me-ups”, and it continues with great ideas. “We are making March the month of 'everyday movement'. Unfortunately, many sports are not yet possible due to the Corona regulations. But going out to get some exercise - anyone can, "explains Hohensinner," all the more we want to motivate the people of Graz to use the StepsApp, to challenge themselves with other associations, companies or districts and, above all, to go to the Schloßberg go. ”The Schloßberg is more than just a sight and a lookout point. “It is an ideal workout program for everyone,” says Hohensinner, “if you want to take it easy, you can do this via the paths from Karmeliterplatz or Wickenburggasse. Those who want it more sporty choose the route via the stairs - walking or running. ”Participants can win both the Schloßberg Challenge and the StepsApp Challenges - all information can be found on the homepage www.letsgograz.at.

program coordinator Markus Pichler refers to another great project idea that fits wonderfully into March: the “7 Summits of Graz”, the highest elevations in Graz and the surrounding area (Schloßberg / Hackher-Löwe, Lustbühel, Fürstenstand auf dem Plabutsch, St. Johann and Paul , Platte, Buchkogel and Schöckl). “You simply download a collective pass from our website, print it out and get a stamp on every summit. Once you have your passport full, you send it to the sports department. At the end of the year you can take part in a raffle for very attractive prizes. ”You can win overnight stays with a sunrise breakfast in the Stubenberghaus on the Schöckl - you don't experience something like that every day.

If the 7 summits are not enough for you, you should consider the "extreme version". Pichler: “The very sporty among us can complete the 7 summits in one day. Of course, only cycling and running kilometers count. "

For Sports Council Christopher Drexler The sports year comes exactly at the right time: "Even if a lot is currently still impossible and the measures against the pandemic are having an impact on program planning: The sports year will make a decisive contribution to an even more intense sporting departure from the Corona crisis. As a sports councilor, I am therefore happy to support the Graz Sports Year and its extensive program with full conviction. Together we will set a powerful impetus for more sport and exercise beyond the state capital. "

A project like the sports year clearly needs reliable sponsors. Holding Graz is a big partner this year. “The holding company is one of the largest sports sponsors in the country. It is not just about top-class sport, but also about young talent or inclusive sport, "says CEO Wolfgang Malik, which reveals that Haus Graz offers a wide range of initiatives to encourage employees to adopt health-promoting behavior - from the health day once a year to the fitness calendar, the active break and company sports groups. “In the sports year, we as Haus Graz will take part specifically in the StepsApp, use Active Friday, draw attention to the movement via newsletter and special branding,” explains Malik. For example, the holding company branded the staircase to encourage people to go upstairs.

Steiermärkische Sparkasse has decided to sponsor the Schloßberg Challenge. Michael Gradischnig (Head of the Advertising Department) emphasizes that everyday movement is very important to the company: “As Steiermärkische Sparkasse, we offer around 300 health events for our employees. We have also been active in running for many years and that is why we are very happy to support the Schloßberg Challenge. "