Sports Aid President Giovanni Podini and Jannik Sinner. © HELMUT MOLING

Sports Aid: An unparalleled success story

It is an unparalleled success story – the South Tyrolean Sports Aid, founded in 1987, was created with a clear vision: to support young South Tyrolean sports talents on their path to success.

April 03, 2026

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When the inaugural meeting of the board of trustees of the South Tyrolean Sports Aid was convened on October 9, 1987, in the meeting room of the "Rittnercentre" in Bolzano, nobody knew that the non-profit association would still be committed to the same mission almost 40 years later: to support young South Tyrolean up-and-coming talents.

The idea for the sports aid organization was born several months before its "official" founding in Schnals at a meeting between Erwin Stricker, Luis Durnwalder, Willy Gabalin, Ossi Pircher, Alfred Dissertori and Rudi Stocker, who, incidentally, still sits on the committees of the sports aid organization today.

40 million lire starting capital

The first president of the South Tyrolean Sports Aid Foundation was Ossi Pircher. The organization began its work with initial capital of 40 million lire. One of the reasons for its founding was to support two young skiers who had been seriously injured in a cable car accident during training, as well as a biathlete. Even then, Ossi Pircher formulated the organization's central goals: providing assistance to athletes facing hardship, promoting talented young athletes, and offering scholarships to underprivileged young athletes. From the outset, the Sports Aid Foundation was conceived as a solidarity-based and interethnic organization – open to all three language groups of South Tyrol. These fundamental principles are firmly enshrined in its statutes.
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Support for summer and winter sports athletes

Ossi Pircher was succeeded as president by Walter Ausserhofer – since 2015, Giovanni Podini has headed the association: “Supporting young athletes is at the heart of our work – then and now. Every year, summer and winter sports athletes can apply for funding. This is performance-based support, which is evaluated according to specific criteria – depending on the sport,” explains Podini. An eleven-member board and an expert committee meet regularly to discuss the direction and funding decisions of the sports aid program.

The South Tyrolean Sports Aid program is financed through sponsorship contributions, public funds, patrons and members, as well as allocations from the 5 per mille tax and private donations. Fundraising through events and initiatives also plays a significant role.

Among the most important events is the Alperia Sports Aid Gala, which takes place on Friday, April 10th at the Merano Kurhaus and has established itself over the years as a "Night of Sports" and a meeting place for representatives from sports, business, politics, and society. "Every initiative, no matter how small, and every donation is of great importance to the Sports Aid Foundation, because it directly benefits the many up-and-coming talents in South Tyrol. If we can support these talents on their journey and help them advance in their sporting careers, then we have fulfilled our mission. And if one or more of them make the leap into professional sports, we are all the more delighted," emphasizes Director Evi Hilpold, who has been leading the organization for several months.

Almost 40 years after its founding, the South Tyrolean Sports Aid is not only a reliable partner for young talents, but also a symbol of cohesion, equal opportunities and the sustainable development of sport in the region.