The IcanDo association from Hanover has been awarded the “Big Star of Sports” in Gold 2020 for its “IcanDo @ School” initiative. With this, the club received the most important award for sports clubs in Germany, the “Oscar of popular sports”, endowed with 10,000 euros. The application was submitted to the Hannoversche Volksbank. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier gave the result of the nationwide competition officially announced at a digital award ceremony. The competition was initiated by the German Volksbanken and Raiffeisenbanken with their federal association (BVR) and the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB).
A total of 17 clubs from all 16 federal states each had the chance of gold as winners at state level. Behind the IcanDo eV, the karate club Zanshin-Siegerland eV landed in second place with the project “ZKidz – Zanshin Kidz are clever and courageous”. The Volksbank in South Westphalia received this application. The club from North Rhine-Westphalia can look forward to prize money of 7,500 euros. Third was the Duvenstedter Sportverein von 1969 eV, which had submitted its application to the Hamburger Volksbank. For their initiative “DSV – I will grow up with sport in Duvenstedt”, the people of Hamburg will receive a bonus of 5,000 euros. The 14 other finalists share fourth place and each receive a winner’s check for 1,000 euros.
Creativity gives hope
“It’s great what the sports clubs have put together in these difficult times,” said Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. “The volunteers and association boards have also developed great offers for young and old in 2020 – despite or perhaps because of Corona. This creativity gives me hope for the new year. Even if we all have to sit still a lot at home so that we can overcome this crisis together. “
Inspiration for all clubs
DOSB President Alfons Hörmann focused on the particular challenges of 2020: “Despite the corona pandemic and the associated restrictions, great projects made it to the finals again. The creativity and energy of the clubs are simply outstanding, many thanks to everyone involved, ”said Hörmann. A total of six of the 17 final projects are directly related to Corona.
BVR President Marija Kolak emphasized: “Especially in times of corona-related distance, the cohesion of people is essential. The voluntary work in the sports clubs deserves the highest recognition right now. We honor the numerous helpers in popular sport with the ‘Stars of Sport’. ”
1st prize: IcanDo @ School
For the third time, the first prize goes to Lower Saxony. At the beginning of the corona pandemic, the IcanDo association developed an exercise program for children in schools and kindergartens with its “IcanDo @ School” initiative. Children should be able to play and move in spite of the distance rules, explains club chairman Olaf Zajonc. In the concept they also develop a feeling for closeness and distance. In addition to the face-to-face training, IcanDo eV has developed a handout. The brochure contains a catalog with games and tips for teachers to use, which has been downloaded thousands of times.
2nd place: “ZKidz – Zanshin Kidz are clever and brave”
The karate club Zanshin-Siegerland impressed with its initiative “ZKidz – Zanshin Kidz are clever and courageous”. It is a prevention program against sexual violence and child abuse. Karate and violence prevention trainer Oliver Lütz has been actively involved in daycare centers and primary schools for many years. His goal: to give the children self-confidence. In this way, they can make the right decisions in everyday situations and better protect themselves against sexual assault.
3rd place: “DSV – I will grow up with sport in Duvenstedt”
With the initiative “DSV – I grow up with sport in Duvenstedt”, the Duvenstedt sports club made it to third place. The project helps families who have moved to the fast-growing Hamburg district to quickly feel at home through sport. More than half of the members are children and young people. In addition, the club tries to inspire the youngsters to take on responsibility as referees or trainers.
Audience award to Pinneberg
In addition to the awards from the clubs, an audience award was again awarded this year. Here, ARD viewers of Morgenmagazin and the general public voted for Jana Glindmeyer for her extraordinary commitment to VfL Pinneberg. She played a key role in the “Stop – Not with Me!” Project as chairwoman of the youth sports group and as child protection officer. It is primarily about a twelve-page comic about child protection, which the association from Schleswig-Holstein has published. In addition, a “child protection traffic light” was developed as part of a workshop. This shows which behaviors are okay (green), which are in the border area (yellow) and which are not possible (red). Winning the audience award is linked to a prize of 2,000 euros.
DOSB and BVR have been honoring extraordinary activities or offers from sports clubs since 2004. The clubs have received awards at the state and federal level.
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