Voluntary work: Sports Minister honors sports heroes in Magdeburg

Voluntary work: Sports Minister honors sports heroes in Magdeburg

In Saxony-Anhalt, the great importance of volunteering in sport is very important. An impressive event recently took place in the Magdeburg State Chancellery, at which Sports Minister Dr. Tamara Zieschang, numerous volunteers and athletes received the recognition they deserved. [Magdeburg clicks] reports that the minister recognized the special achievements and merits of a total of 19 actors on this occasion: 11 volunteers, 7 athletes and an entire team were honored.

Volunteering is the heart of sports clubs in the region. In Saxony-Anhalt, more people are involved in volunteer work than in other areas of society. These volunteers are often trainers, groundskeepers or youth leaders and make a crucial contribution to the club's work and the promotion of sport. This underlines how crucial commitment to social cohesion through sport is. [State Sports Association of Saxony-Anhalt] emphasizes that support and appreciation for these committed people are essential in order to continue to promote a lively sports culture.

Excellent personalities

The volunteers who particularly stood out included:

• Christa Bensch, TSV Niederndodeleben e. V.
• Roland Schwarz, MSV Buna Schkopau e. V.
• Michael Horn, TSG Wittenberg e. V.
• Andreas Biewald, Osterburger FC e. V.
• Horst Matzke, Leichtathletikclub Dessau e. V.
• Annett Schranz, Tanz- und Sportverein Magdeburg e. V.
• Raymund Schauer, VfL Kalbe/Milde e. V.
• Burghardt Knobbe, SV Langenstein e. V.
• Heike Gordziel, HSK „Salzkoth-Ascania” 1547 e. V. Aschersleben
• Uwe Klein, KAV Mansfelder Land e. V.
• Ralf Kalisch, SG Chemie Bitterfeld-Wolfen e. V.

Particularly notable awards were given to athletes who distinguished themselves through their activities. Bärbel Kaufer and Peter Kleefeld were honored for the longest active period, while Christianeaccio and Michael Schade were honored in the “Active with Handicap” category.

A strong network in sports

The event, which took place for the twelfth time this year, is part of a larger movement that focuses on valuing volunteer work. Over 10,000 licensed trainers are involved in around 3,000 sports clubs in Saxony-Anhalt. The “4×4 Voluntary Engagement in a Sports Club” qualification series was also successfully launched in 2025. It offers targeted training to promote volunteerism and answers key questions about attracting and retaining volunteers.Positive feedback from participants, such as Marco Lehmann from the Central German Sports Club, shows the success of such initiatives: “The course was enriching, practical and inspiring.”An exchange of experiences and ideas also strengthens the community among the volunteers.

The basic understanding that no sports club can survive without volunteerism underlines the urgency and relevance of involvement in society - a fact that is particularly pronounced in Saxony-Anhalt.