Exercise for everyone: In May, the district sports grounds and a special fitness decathlon await all those who are hungry for sports

The third month of the sports year has started. And all sports fans are longingly looking forward to May 19, when, after a long break, the opening steps for sports, both outdoors and indoors, are to take place. These steps will also have a decisive impact on the sporting year, such as the City Councilor Kurt Hohensinner explains: "We can now develop even more and have more opportunities for the many projects." This means above all that the clubs that are already scraping their ideas and actions in the starting blocks now have a certain planning security, and in some cases also can already start organizing. "Now the days and weeks come when we can really fill our calendar on the homepage," says the program coordinator with a smile Markus Pichler"Postponed events will be rescheduled and re-dated, in May we will start again, so to speak, after all, the numerous projects of the clubs are the heart of our sporting year." For example, running meetings are offered in all 17 districts or e-bike training courses.

The “We make sport” project is such a centerpiece and is being implemented by ASVÖ Styria. Sports programs for the elderly and the young at heart are offered every day on 16 district sports fields. “The weekly program runs until the end of October and will always take place on the same day at the same time - always in the morning. In every Graz district there is at least one offer that can easily be copied at home as a “home workout”, ”explains the project manager Nadja Büchler from ASVÖ. Participation in the program is non-binding and free of charge for all participants - just come, join in and enjoy the exercise! Hohensinner adds: “The aim of this initiative is to make the district sports grounds in Graz also attractive for other age groups and thus to create new target groups and offers. Many older people in Graz are of the opinion that the sports facilities in public spaces only belong to the young. ”All information about the senior sports program will be available soon www.letsgograz.at.

Court Culture App and Street League

The district sports fields are also the focus of the “Court Culture App”. On this app (www.courtculture.cc) you will find all freely accessible sports areas in the city. So far, the Court Culture app has been used to reserve seats and to meet up for joint sports activities. A new feature will be activated from May 19: the "Leisure League" in various sports. "With the Court Culture App we want to motivate and network everyone for sport," says Torben pike, Founder of the app.

Fitness decathlon for everyone

However, the people of Graz don't have to wait until May 19 to be able to do sports. As in March and April, there will also be special exercise initiatives in May to participate. This time a “fitness decathlon” is waiting for everyone in Graz. On www.letsgograz.at/ detenathlon there is the “Let's Go decathlon collector's pass” for downloading and printing. It describes ten “disciplines” that you should complete over the next few weeks. For example, it is about visiting a district sports field in Graz and practicing a sport there (table tennis, tennis, football, basketball, ...). Or do a fitness session in one of the eight calisthenics facilities in Graz. But also to go without the lift for about three days and always take the stairs instead. “You can then tick off the exercises that you have completed on the collective pass. Then send the completed passport to the sports department or bring it over by June 18 - then you will receive a decathlon medal as a reward and take part in a competition, ”said Pichler. He appeals to the sporting fairness of each individual: "Of course we cannot control anyone whether they actually do their personal decathlon - but first and foremost it is our job to motivate people and in the end you are just lying to yourself."

As patron of the fitness decathlon, I was able to participate Thomas Tebbich Incidentally, the most successful decathlete from Graz will be won. The current business manager of SK Sturm won three national championship titles in the decathlon, three titles in the indoor heptathlon and one in the pole vault. “It's a great idea that I'm very happy to support. Nowadays in particular, low-threshold initiatives are needed to get people involved in sport. I will definitely do my personal Let's Go decathlon with my children, ”says Tebbich, looking forward to the exercise.

Swimming course offensive in July

A former top athlete as patron also has another initiative in this sporting year. When you think of swimming in Graz, you can't ignore a lady: Joerdis Steinegger. The three-time Olympic participant has won more than 100 national swimming titles. Even after her career ended in 2017, swimming is still her passion: “I can only welcome and support every initiative that is started to motivate and win children over to swim. Corona has prevented a lot in swimming - it is high time to get the children to swim again. "

And this is exactly where the city of Graz's swimming course offensive comes in - a matter close to the heart of the city council: “Many self-evident programs could not take place in recent months due to the corona pandemic, for example the regular swimming courses. This is not about sport per se, but about the fact that it is life-threatening if children do not learn to swim. "Hohensinner can therefore proudly announce:" In July we will open the pools in the ATG and the Union for three weeks and can start such an unprecedented swimming course offensive. We're talking about additional courses for around 500 children. ”Two thirds of the courses are for beginners from the age of four, on five days (1,5 hours each) the children should learn how to swim, which is essential for life. All courses in the offensive cost a uniform 99 euros. “As a city, we especially want to support and promote this year. That is why this year there is a one-off 50 euro voucher for everyone who books a swimming course through the Sports Office. With this, the course costs only 49 euros per child, ”says Hohensinner. Information on the swimming course offensive will be available soon www.graz.at or in the Sports Office of the City of Graz.