Charity football in Vienna: 20,000 euros for children affected by poverty!

Charity football in Vienna: 20,000 euros for children affected by poverty!

Yesterday, on October 11, 2023, a charity football tournament took place in the Generali Arena in Vienna-Favoriten, which made the hearts of sports enthusiasts beat faster. The organizers are none other than Mayor Michael Ludwig (SP) and Walter Ruck, President of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce. Both had also taken on the captaincy roles in their respective teams, the “Politics” team and the “Economy” team.

The tournament, in which four teams competed against each other - "Politics", "Economy", "Media" and "Sport and Culture" - was not only a lot of fun, but also had a serious goal: The proceeds of 20,000 euros went to "Cape 10 - The House that Helps", a project that supports children and young people affected by poverty in Vienna. Mayor Ludwig emphasized that, especially in times like these, it is important to strengthen the cohesion and solidarity of the people of Vienna, while Walter Ruck praised the sporting ambition and cooperation.

Exciting duels on the pitch

A total of 30 goals were scored at the tournament and the audience was able to enjoy thrilling games. The duel between “politics” and “economy” was particularly exciting and ended 1-0 for Michael Ludwig’s team. Ultimately, the “Media” team was able to celebrate winning the tournament, having tied with the “Politics” team with a better goal difference. Captain Martin Lang and his men showed that they can kick really well.

Among the prominent players were Katrin Beierl, Steffen Hofmann, Marcos Nader, Christian Spatzek and Hans Bürger. Spectators from Vienna's celebrity scene also didn't miss the event: Stephanie Venier, Ulla Weigerstorfer, Christoph Fälbl and Gary Howard came to show their support and give the great event a highlight.

An important socio-political commitment

The charity tournament was part of a long tradition of social commitment through sport. As research reports show, sporting events play a central role in social cohesion and can serve as a platform for dialogue and collaboration, particularly in conflict areas. Sport is used in many initiatives to promote educational opportunities and support social integration, which was also evident at this tournament, where the focus was on supporting disadvantaged groups. The children's aid organization “Plan” in Tanzania, for example, uses soccer teams to empower girls and promote their development.

Sport not only has the purpose of providing entertainment, but can also act as a means of promoting education, health and social peace. The UN has repeatedly emphasized in its programs the importance of using sport to promote social goals, which was also the basis for this tournament.

Yesterday was not only a sporting highlight, but also a strong sign of the social cohesion and commitment of the Viennese population. Thanks to the initiative of Mayor Michael Ludwig and Walter Ruck, many children and young people can count on the support they urgently need.

For more information about the charity football tournament, consult the coverage on Today and Vienna.gv.at. Insights into the role of sport for social causes can be found in the analysis of bpb.de.