Treble winners FC Bayern were deservedly recognised for their outstanding sporting achievements this year at the Bavarian Sports Prize ceremony. In addition, Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich received a special award for their volunteer work during the COVID-19 pandemic with their charity initative #WeKickCorona. Ex-Bayern star Bastian Schweinsteiger was honoured for his remarkable career.
‘Personal Prize of the Bavarian Minister-President’ for FC Bayern
As a sports club that’s known all over the world and a first-class poster child for Bavaria, the German record champions were this year’s recipients of the ‘Personal Prize of the Bavarian Minister-President’. The Minister of State for the Interior, Sport and Integration, Joachim Herrmann, presented the award on behalf of Minister-President Dr. Markus Söder, who apologised for his absence. “These successes, such as the treble and the two Super Cups, are simply unbelievable – and it’s not just die-hard Bayern fans like myself who have great respect for them,” said chairman of the panel Herrmann, who underlined that FC Bayern is an “ambassador for Bavaria across the whole world”.
President Herbert Hainer, who received the award on behalf of the treble winners together with team captain Manuel Neuer, said: “There seems to be no end to the prizes that this great team are winning.” Hainer added that these successes were “even more notable” given the particular circumstances of the coronavirus pandemic, which Neuer also felt: “We’re proud of what we’ve achieved together,” said the 34-year-old.
Special award for Kimmich and Goretzka
The inaugural ‘Special Award for Exemplary Commitment to Overcoming the Coronavirus Pandemic’ went to Bayern pair Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka, who have raised five million Euros so far for charitable and social organisations through their ‘#WeKickCorona’ initiative. “It’s nice to receive an award that’s only partly related to football. We’re both very proud of it – and we feel we’ve done something right,” commented Kimmich.
Footballers have much to thank society for, so “it was time to give something back”, added co-founder Goretzka. That’s how the idea for the donation platform came about. “It’s been very successful with hundreds of donations from private donors and colleagues in the world of sport and society,” stated Goretzka. “I think it’s very special that there’s such great solidarity here in Germany,” added an equally impressed Kimmich.
Schweinsteiger’s outstanding career recognised
Schweinsteiger during his Bayern testimonial in August 2018.
A former Bayern star was also recognised on the night. Bastian Schweinsteiger received the award in the category ‘Outstanding Bavarian Sports Career’ for top sporting performances and excellent, long-lasting services to sport and Bavaria. The ‘football god’, as he’s known to Bayern fans, won over 20 titles with the German record champions, making him one of Germany’s most successful footballers of all time.
As well as outstanding sporting achievements, FC Bayern also stand for social engagement:
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