Munich (dpa / lby) - Lothar Matthäus, Felix Neureuther, Anna Schaffelhuber, Nathalie Geisenberger and Anne Haug are Bavarian ambassadors of sport. "The appointment is a heartfelt thank you for the life's work so far," said Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) at the appointment on Thursday in the Munich State Chancellery. "They are all role models, each in their own field."
The former soccer professional Matthäus, the former monoskier and seven-time Paralympic champion Schaffelhuber, the exceptional tobogganist Geisenberger and the former ski racer Neureuther were honored. Top triathlete Haug was not present because, according to Sports Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU), she is already training for the next Ironman.
The new ambassadors should be a flagship for the Free State. According to Söder, the virtues they convey are decisive for their appointment: fairness, team spirit and perseverance.
The sports ambassadors also want to encourage children and young people to exercise. "You can't tell a child: You're going to be a top athlete. It has to develop a passion on its own. That's why we have to try to get the children and young people to join the clubs," said Neureuther.
