Sport After Rampage in Graz with Mourning and Remembrance

The Austrian sports world, with the national football team at the forefront, was not only under the impression of the shooting spree carried out at a Graz school on Tuesday, which resulted in a total of eleven deaths. On Wednesday, various events were overshadowed by this unprecedented event in the Second Republic, and a press conference in Vienna about the World Tour tournament of the 3x3 basketball players was canceled. Words of mourning and remembrance were almost everywhere.

"It is really terrible"

The local 3x3 teams gathered at Heumarkt for the nationwide minute of silence instead of a classic media event, which brought tears to the eyes of many involved. Then, information was provided to the attending journalists in a reduced version. "It is really terrible," said national player Rebekka Kalaydjiev. She was seriously injured in a car accident in the USA a few years ago at the age of 21. "Such events make you look at life differently." Side events of the tournament were canceled, and security measures were increased.

The press conference of the local climbing association before the home World Cup took place, and KVÖ managing director Heiko Wilhelm opened the Innsbruck event with words on the sad main topic. "Yesterday was a black day for our country, the news was gruesome. The tragic events at the BORG in Graz have deeply shaken us and occupied us heavily in the last 24 hours. Our thoughts and condolences also go to the relatives, friends, teachers - who were present at this cruel act of violence."

The question of the purpose of the press conference in such a situation was there. "However, we are convinced that especially in such difficult times, sport is a place of community and solidarity, of connection, strength, and hope. This should continue to be lived despite all the tragedy. The World Cup is a gathering of many young people from all over the world - with joy, peacefully fair, and with the necessary respect for the sporting challenge. We believe that these values are more important than ever in such moments."

Pristauz native of Graz

Beach volleyball player Moritz Pristauz, a native of Graz, was also affected. "It is simply terrible what happened. We both can't believe it. Graz is my birthplace, I never thought this could happen. Our thoughts are with the relatives of the victims," said the sports partner of Julian Hörl, distressed before their joint departure to the Challenge tournament in Alanya, Turkey. In volleyball, the Thursday press conference before the Silver League home games of the ÖVV women in Amstetten was canceled.

In Graz, alongside the Grazathlon with thousands of participants, an international diving meeting is also set to take place over the weekend - in a small, quiet, purely sporting setting, as stated by the organizing club GAK. Some mentioned have canceled their trip to the Styrian capital, but athletes from five nations are participating. Last year's synchronized European champion Dariush Lotfi is competing.

(APA/Red)

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