The "Integration through Sport" sponsorship award is now in its 14th edition this year. The prize is awarded to clubs, independent youth welfare organizations, migrant organizations or other institutions as well as committed volunteers. All award winners make an exceptional and sustainable contribution to integration work in Aachen in the field of sport.

Making the integration work of sports clubs visible

At a joint press conference on Friday, May 23, representatives of the City of Aachen, the Förderverein Integration durch Sport and the Stadtsportbund Aachen e. V. explained the significance of the award and the application procedure. Fittingly, the meeting point was the girls' football tournament in Kennedypark, which was being held for the twelfth time as part of the last award winner's project: "Mädchen mittendrin - mehr Chancen für Mädchen durch Fußball" ("Girls in the thick of it - more opportunities for girls through soccer") by the Aachener Förderverein Integration durch Sport e. V.

Mayor Sibylle Keupen emphasized: "The sponsorship award makes visible what otherwise often remains hidden: the valuable integration work of numerous sports clubs. Integration projects in sport build bridges, because sport opens up new approaches to each other."

The sponsorship award

After the application deadline, a jury will select three winners from all the applications. They can look forward to cash prizes and a high-profile presentation of their project. But other applications do not necessarily go away empty-handed either: The sponsorship prize awards recognition prizes to projects that are particularly worthy of support. The sponsor Intersport Drucks also provides attractive non-cash prizes.

Rolf Frankenberger, Head of the Department of Housing, Social Affairs and Integration, was enthusiastic about the past applications: "The last award winners have shown how diverse Aachen's sporting landscape is and that integration through sport is particularly successful. Sport connects nations from all over the world through emotion and passion." Simone Sturm from Stadtsportbund Aachen e. V. made it clear that the sponsorship award is intended to provide a platform for sports clubs and projects that are often unaware of the significant integration work they do on a voluntary basis.

Meaningful applications must be submitted by July 13 by e-mail to sportamt@mail.aachen.de or - if not otherwise possible - by post to the Sports Department. The proposals and applications should describe the activities, projects and their success. This includes, for example, special education and training measures - also beyond everyday sporting activities - or special offers that emphasize health aspects. There are no limits to creativity here. The application form can be found under Municipal Sponsorship Award | City of Aachen.

This year's "Integration through Sport" award ceremony will take place on November 6 at the depot on Talstrasse.