In all of Europe everything is currently about the round leather, the European Football Championship is entering the hot phase. In Graz in July and August everything will revolve around a small white, orange or yellow plastic ball: The big summer campaign of the sports year, the table tennis emperor, is intended to motivate the entire city and not just those who already play table tennis regularly. mayor Siegfried Rush opened the challenge with the first match on the main square in Graz and is enthusiastic about the idea: “The sports year has been an absolute success since day one and the motto 'Let's Go Graz' has long since become a real brand. The people of Graz enjoy exercising and are very happy to take part in the numerous sports offered by the clubs. I am convinced that we will see a lot of people at the table tennis tables in the summer. ”Even the mayor himself will not miss out on one or two duels with the people of Graz and pick up the bat himself:“ Of course I am happy to take on challenges, if time allows, ”Nagl smiles.

The sports councilor explains the recipe for success of the competition Kurt Hohensinner: “You can play almost anywhere: There are table tennis tables in every Graz bathroom, on the district sports fields and in most of the larger residential complexes. In addition, many have a table in their own garden. So you have relatively easy access to play and we therefore appeal to a very broad audience. ”In addition, in the first days of July, separate Let's Go tables will be set up in public places where you can play. And what is particularly important: The table tennis competition is not about victories or defeats, but solely about the number of games. “Whoever completes most of the games against different opponents is crowned empress or emperor. So it is not about the greatest skill, but about the greatest diligence, ”says Hohensinner, looking forward to the challenge, which should above all contribute to increasing the community spirit among the people of Graz. Work colleagues, friends, neighbors - everyone can and should be challenged.

Registration via the Court Culture app

Participation in the Table Tennis Emperor's Challenge is primarily via the Court Culture app. Once registered and logged in, you can create personal matches in the app and thus collect points. Of course, there are also attractive prizes for the Empress at the end of the challenge.

A smartphone is an advantage, but not a must to participate, as is the program coordinator Markus Pichler explains: “We also offer fixtures to download from the homepage. Here you simply enter your opponents by hand. If the plan is full, you send it to the sports department. So everyone can really play along, there is no excuse, so to speak! "

Pichler also reveals an important fact: the more games are played in the city as a whole, the better it is - because the people of Graz can "earn" table tennis tables. “With 1.000 games there is the first table tennis table for the population. The other tables for 5.000, 10.000, 15.000 and 20.000 matches. Graz can thus earn a total of five tables for the public space, ”explains Pichler.

All information about the big hands-on challenge is available on the homepage at www.letsgograz.at/tischtenniskaiserin.

Incidentally, the idea behind the unique table tennis competition is Attila Balaz from USV Indigo Graz, coach of successful young players Maria Lytvyn and Jonas Lichtenbergwho triumphed in the Austrian championships in the U-11 class this year in May: Lytvyn won gold in the individual and with Lichtenberg (bronze in the individual) also gold in the team competition. Together with Nagl and Hohensinner, the two opened the Table Tennis Emperor Challenge today. So Graz has talented table tennis players - at the end of the summer hopefully many new fans of this beautiful sport and, above all, an empress and an emperor ...

Dense calendar

The TischtenniskaiserIn-Challenge is clearly not the only competition in July. You can see from the tightly packed calendar that the sporting year really got going: https://letsgograz.at/veranstaltungen/. Running meetings are held in all districts, Andritz calls for the large district sports day on July 3, and a chess puzzle rally and a blitz tournament take place in the Augarten on the same day. In the sports of beach soccer, beach volleyball and beach tennis, for example, there are trial units to take part in. The “Let's Go Grätzel Events” are organized regularly in the Margaretenbad. The half marathon in Graz will take place on July 11th. And the Mur is also particularly in the spotlight in July: The "River Days" experience their opening with a new concept from July 9th to 11th and then offer great hands-on programs until August.

A social highlight will also celebrate a premiere on July 28th: ​​For the first time, the great “Summer Night of Sports” will take place in the casemates. “Graz has countless successful athletes and even more committed officials and officials. We want to bring these in front of the curtain and give their use a special priority. That is why the traditional Graz athlete and state championship ceremony takes place during the summer night, ”explains Hohensinner.

Swimming for Cancer Aid

In keeping with the hot summer, the Austrian Cancer Aid Styria has launched a swimming challenge on the occasion of its 75th anniversary: ​​From July 1st to September 12th, the Styrians should cover 75.000 lengths together and ultimately collect 75.000 euros. All information is available at www.75000.krebshilfe.at.