The Sport Austria Finals in June will be the biggest championship celebration of all time and thus the absolute highlight of the Graz sports year!

Spectacular rallies in the Racket Sport Center, cracking fists in the Unionhalle, hot canoe duels on the Mur, quick legs in the ASKÖ Center or people flying on the main square of Graz and in the oyster: the Sport Austria Finals powered by Intersport & Holding Graz unite 29 Sports associations for a mega event. Around 4.000 athletes will spread the feeling of the Olympic Games on a small scale on the first weekend in June in the Styrian capital - for some of them it will be a last important assessment of their position on the way to Tokyo.

“The Sport Austria Finals are a perfect fit for Graz! The Olympic character of this first multisport event in Austria with 29 participating associations puts national top sport in the focus of the public and thus strengthens our diverse domestic sports culture. I would like to thank the federal government, the state of Styria and the city of Graz for the support of the finals and I am already looking forward to exciting competitions. Let's hope that the premiere will be a sign of new beginnings after the historical health crisis has been overcome and that we can celebrate a sports festival as we know it from pre-Corona times: with enthusiasm, emotions and carefree joy about the sporting achievements on offer " says Sport Austria President Hans Niessl.

It would have been the ultimate “super sports weekend” - with “Sports Day” and “River Days” on the same weekend. The former moves into September, the River Days should go on with a presumably adapted program. So it will still be a great sports weekend that will take place from June 3rd to 6th in the Styrian capital. “At the moment there is no getting around sport in Graz, after the first few weeks we can say with satisfaction: It was good and right to announce the sporting year. The population is greedy for exercise and sport, ”explains the City Councilor for Sports Kurt Hohensinner, “But we also need the big events and flagship projects to generate even more enthusiasm. The finals are very central here, they are an absolute highlight for us. We will see the premiere in June, but the finals will also be held in Graz in 2022. Then it will be a combination of exciting sporting events and a great supporting program. "

Sports Council Christopher Drexler also shows himself as a fan: “I think the idea of ​​the finals is brilliant, namely the concentrated load of sports in one place and that sports that are otherwise not so in focus will make the headlines. Every year the finals would play a special role, but this year this role is even more important: Because we hope that in June we can send strong signals of confidence and departure. I am very happy that Styria is experiencing the premiere of the finals, our country is particularly talented for major sporting events, as the past has shown. "

Volunteers are still wanted

The preparations for the finals are in full swing: from A for production manager to Z for master of ceremonies. The selection process for around 300 volunteers for the finals is already in the hot phase - applications are below www.sportaustriafinals.at but still possible. “Organizing an event of this size is of course a challenge. But we have a competent team, strong partners with the State of Styria, the City of Graz and the associations and are right on schedule. The infrastructure in Graz is perfect for a sporting event of this size, ”explains finals coordinator Jurgen Winterwho also hopes viewers will be admitted. “Together with the associations, we have developed a comprehensive Covid-19 concept for the Sport Austria Finals. If the regulation in force in June allows it, we are ready. "

Athletes are enthusiastic

At the Sport Austria Finals, among others, water divers will take part Dariush Lotfi: “For me as a Graz native, it was clear from the first moment when I heard that the first Sport Austria Finals were taking place in Graz: I have to be there! The concept with a common platform for so many sports is incredibly exciting and offers great potential. I'm really looking forward to it! ”Lotfi may then take part as an Olympic starter, because the GAK athlete will get one last qualification opportunity in and for Tokyo at the beginning of May.

The anticipation is also with Jan Schuhmann (Grazer Fecht-Union) huge: “It is an important impulse for fencing to be able to be part of this event. And we have a lot to offer: The epee decisions are very attractive and - should viewers be able to - also easy to understand. The saber is spectacular, after all, the fastest sport at the Olympic Games. "

Stephanie Wilfling (Racket Sport Center Graz) sees padel tennis on the upswing: “As a young sport, we are happy about this opportunity to be part of the Sport Austria Finals. The interest in the championships is huge, but not only that - three new courts are currently being built in the Racket Sport Center in Graz, plus eight more courts in Styria. This makes us one of the top 3 federal states in Austria. "

And also an orienteer Marie Maier (OLC Graz) emphasizes: “The Sport Austria Finals are the perfect opportunity to present our sport to people and to make it palatable. And with our two competitions - the sprint relay and the sprint - we can show that orienteering is just as possible in the city as it is in nature. "

UCI Mountain Bike Eliminator World Championship on September 5th

Despite all the confidence and optimism for the Sport Austria Finals, the organizers have to announce a postponement of another lighthouse project: The UCI Mountain Bike Eliminator World Championship planned for May 2nd in downtown Graz will be postponed to September 5th. Three weeks later (September 26th) the traditional “Sports Day” will take place.