“The gala as the highlight of the year”

Giovanni Podini, President of the South Tyrolean Sports Aid Foundation, is looking forward to the Sports Aid Gala on April 11 at the Kurhaus in Merano. In an interview with s+, he reveals why this event is of great value to the Sports Aid Foundation and why no true sports fan should miss it. Giovanni Podini, the Sporthilfe Gala is just around the corner. What does this event mean for South Tyrol's Sporthilfe? Giovanni Podini: The gala is the highlight of the year for the sports and business world in South Tyrol. Personalities from sports, politics, and business come together to celebrate sport, exchange ideas, and make new contacts. Everyone involved in sports—whether as a club member, official, or athlete—should take advantage of this opportunity. It's a chance to experience idols up close, meet like-minded people, and be part of a great team. Since 1987, South Tyrol's Sports Aid Foundation has supported over 1700 athletes with more than 5,7 million euros—but its support goes far beyond financial support. Where does it begin? We are a non-profit organization, the only private sports promotion initiative in South Tyrol. Our funding comes from membership fees, donations, charity events, the 5% allocation, sponsorship money from the private sector, and contributions from public authorities and sponsors. We primarily support young athletes financially, but we also develop long-term support strategies. A central project is the "Great Season" program, which bridges the gap between sports and business for athletes after their active careers, thus enabling them to embark on a successful second career with the values they acquired in competitive sports, such as determination and perseverance. And then there's the special support for aspiring Olympians... Exactly, the so-called Elite Program. We currently support eight athletes with monthly sponsorships in conjunction with the State Office for Sports, enabling them to optimally prepare for major events such as the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Three outstanding examples of our elite athletes are Yanick Gunsch (bronze at the Ski Cross World Championships), Peter Schroffenegger (bronze at the Special Olympics World Winter Games), and Emanuel Perathoner (overall World Cup winner and two-time Para-Snowboarding World Champion). Let's stay with the Olympics, which will take place in Italy and South Tyrol in 2026. What do they mean for the South Tyrolean sports world? First of all, I want to stress that the Olympic Games need positive storytelling. There is too little talk about sport, which we must put at the center of attention. South Tyrolean Sports Aid is behind the Olympics in Italy! For every athlete, taking part is their greatest dream – even more so when they take place “at home.” We are part of these Games and proud to be able to host them right on our doorstep. They offer us a unique opportunity to grow as a society, to drive innovation, and to boldly embrace new things. The funds provided for the Olympics can be used to implement infrastructure projects and sustainable mobility solutions that benefit the entire region. These Games are an opportunity – for sport and for all of South Tyrol.

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“The gala as the highlight of the year”

The President of South Tyrolean Sports Aid, Giovanni Podini, is particularly looking forward to April 11th, but also to the 2026 Olympics.

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