Prime Minister Malu Dreyer has awarded six active top athletes and four volunteers with the sports badge. It is the country’s highest honor given in the field of sport. “Sport stands for encounter and diversity. Diversity of disciplines and people who compete with and against each other, whether in professional competitive sports or in a voluntary club. With the sports badge we want to thank people who have done great things for sport in Rhineland-Palatinate, ”said the Prime Minister on the occasion of the ceremony in the ballroom of the State Chancellery.
This year’s winners of the sports badge are: Alfred Knab (Vice President Handball Association Rheinhessen), Jörn von zur Mühlen (President Palatinate Canoe Association eV), Christina Laubersheimer (Vice President Palatinate Handball Association), Peter Josef Schmitz (President Handball Association Rhineland), Timo Bichler (RV Dudenhofen, fifth at the Olympic Games 2021 in judo team competition), Torben Schiewe (TV Güls, sixth at the Paralympics 2021 in sitting volleyball), Lisa Marie Schweizer (AV 03 Speyer, tenth at the Olympic Games 2021 in weightlifting), Martyna Trajdos (1st JC Zweibrücken, third at the Olympic Games 2021 in the judo team competition), Julian Weber (USC Mainz, fourth at the Olympic Games 2021 in the javelin), Oleg Zernikel (ASV Landau, ninth at the Olympic Games 2021 in the pole vault).
“The bearers of the sports badge are distinguished by their special merits and outstanding commitment to sport. With lived values such as commitment, fairness and team spirit, they are a role model and incentive for many athletes in Rhineland-Palatinate, but also for volunteering as a whole. Your achievements make it clear what an important role sport plays in social cohesion, ”emphasized State Secretary for Sports Randolf Stich, who also took part in the festive event.
Prime Minister Malu Dreyer referred to the challenges that sporty people were faced with by the ongoing corona pandemic in 2021. “The pandemic has severely restricted club life and sporting competition. The Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo were also extraordinary in many ways: Isolation in the Olympic Village, family and friends could not cheer on site and the stadium tiers remained empty. Still maintaining focus requires incredible willpower, passion and character. Rhineland-Palatinate is proud of you! ”Said the Prime Minister.
Clubs and sports organizations are the basis of such outstanding successes and a supporting pillar of civil society, emphasized the Prime Minister. That is why the state government has extended the emergency aid program “Protective shield for clubs in need” until December 31, 2021. Associations that have had liquidity problems due to the effects of the corona pandemic can therefore receive up to 12,000 euros in immediate aid in 2021.
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