Kiel, Germany – The Landessportverband (LSV) of Schleswig-Holstein and the Vereinigung Schleswig-Holsteinischer Sportjournalisten (VSHS) are relaunching the voting process for the 2025 Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year awards, following a December disruption caused by attempted manipulation. The online voting, which was previously annulled, will reopen on March 23rd at 12:00 local time (CET) and remain open until April 7th at 12:00 local time (CET).
The initial voting period was halted after a significant number of irregular votes were detected, peaking at 40 to 50 votes per minute for a single nominee in the team category. Authorities identified a mid-four-digit number of fraudulent submissions, prompting the cancellation of both the voting and the planned awards gala in Neumünster.
This year’s nominees represent a diverse range of athletic achievements across various disciplines. Basketball player Elisa Mevius (Rendsburg), Para-swimmer Tanja Scholz (Elmshorn/Neumünster), rower Greta Amort (Lübeck), triathlete Julia Bröcker (Bad Oldesloe), and dressage rider Rose Oatley (Lütjensee) are all in contention for the Sportswoman of the Year title. On the men’s side, the jury has nominated THW Kiel handball player Rasmus Ankermann, sailor Ole Schweckendiek (Kiel), rower Miklas Scheer (Kiel), Para-judo athlete Lennart Sass (Rendsburg), and boxer Freddy Kiwirr (Flensburg).
The race for Team of the Year features a strong field, including handball rivals THW Kiel and SG Flensburg-Handewitt. As well nominated are the German Badminton Vice-Champions, Blau-Weiß Wittorf, the sailing duo of Kjell Haschen and Iven Fromm (Lübeck/Kiel), and the synchronized swimming team, Fördenixen of TSB Flensburg.
To safeguard against a repeat of the previous issues, the LSV and VSHS have implemented a new voting system. The online voting will now be conducted through the NDRfragt platform, a survey tool operated by Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR), a public broadcaster. Participants must be at least 16 years old and register with their name and email address to cast a vote. Detailed information and a link to the voting platform will be available on the NDR website starting March 23rd. https://www.ndr.de/SH
The awards gala, celebrating the achievements of Schleswig-Holstein’s top athletes, has also been rescheduled. The event will now take place on Monday, April 13th, at 6:00 PM local time (CET) at the Holstenhallen in Neumünster.
The Landessportverband Schleswig-Holstein (LSV) serves as the umbrella organization for sports clubs and associations within the northernmost German state. Founded in 1947, the LSV currently represents 2,467 clubs and a total of 812,300 members, as of January 1, 2025. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landessportverband_Schleswig-Holstein The organization is a member of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB).
This incident underscores the growing challenges of maintaining the integrity of online voting systems in sports and other public events. The LSV’s swift action to address the manipulation and implement a more secure platform demonstrates a commitment to fair play and recognizing athletic excellence. The new voting process aims to ensure that the awards accurately reflect the achievements of Schleswig-Holstein’s athletes and are free from external interference.
For those following the awards closely, the next key date is March 23rd, when the voting portal on NDRfragt will open. Fans and supporters will have approximately two weeks to cast their votes and contribute to the selection of Schleswig-Holstein’s Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year. Stay tuned to NDR and the LSV website for further updates and announcements.
What are your thoughts on the new voting system? Share your predictions for the winners in the comments below!
