Mayor Frank Klingebiel and Steffen Krollmann from Volksbank Braunschweig Wolfsburg honored the deserving athletes. Mayor Frank Klingebiel also honored nine long-serving volunteers for their special services to sport.

Last year, athletes from eleven clubs and competition associations from Salzgitter achieved 55 first places in state championships, eleven in German championships and one world championship title alone.

"Three things make a good champion: knowledge, ability and desire. These qualities describe what sport is all about and what this evening is all about. With your success, you are Salzgitter's sporting calling card," emphasized Mayor Frank Klingebiel in his welcoming address.

Before the sports champions were honored, awards were presented to sportsmen and sportswomen who have held honorary positions for many years. They were awarded plaques in silver and gold or, for particularly outstanding services, the City of Salzgitter's letter of honor. Mayor Frank Klingebiel emphasized in his welcoming address that sport in Salzgitter would be unthinkable without the many energetic volunteers and said: "Great respect and thanks for your great and long-standing commitment to your club and your protégés."

This year, the silver plaques were awarded to Christel Löscher, Ingrid Schärling, Rainer Wolf, Marion Krause and Sabine Ostermann for many years of voluntary work. Hella Matzat, Monika Winter and Stephan Kneifel received the three gold plaques. Hella Matzat has been active as a volunteer for a total of 43 years and was the women's club manager at MTV Salzgitter for 36 years alone. Monika Winter has been a volunteer for 35 years and is currently chairwoman of TSV Lesse. Stephan Kneifel has been a member of TSV Salzgitter since his childhood and was head of the gymnastics department for 17 years.

The highest honor bestowed by the city of Salzgitter for voluntary work is the honorary letter. Christoph Olbrich received this for 42 years of voluntary work in various functions at SV Union Salzgitter and the Lower Saxony Athletics Association. Mayor Frank Klingebiel thanked him for his great commitment and said: "Christoph Olbrich promotes his sport wherever he can and is thus an example of the close-knit community in our large Salzgitter sports family."

An athletic juggling program by Andreas Wessels accompanied the award ceremony. The event was supported by Volksbank Braunschweig Wolfsburg.