Vienna to host Sport Austria Finals 2025 from June 3rd to 7th

The Rathausplatz (City Hall Square) plays a central role, hosting 14 sports alone. Minigolf, Archery, Fencing, and the Table Football final session will take place there, among others. Visitors can try out various sports themselves on the participatory days on Friday and Saturday.

Well-Known Names Competing

Among the most well-known participants is archer Elisabeth Straka, who competed at the Olympic Games in Paris 2024. Para-swimmer Andreas Ernhofer announced that he will attempt a world record in the 100-meter backstroke at the Finals. Rower Lara Tiefenthaler, who has already participated in the Olympic Games, and race walker Theresia Mohr will also be present.

In the Darts competition, which will be held alcohol-free for active players and takes place at the Haus des Sports, the sport aims to establish itself in Austria as a serious competitive discipline. Among those competing are the reigning Austrian national champion Franko Giuliani and multiple World Championship participant Rowby-John Rodriguez. Judoka Michaela Polleres and skeleton pilot Janine Flock have won Olympic medals in the past.

Water sports competitions will be held on the Neue Donau and the Donauinsel. Jiu-Jitsu and Karate will take place in the Sport Arena Vienna. Other venues include the Stadthallenbad, Prater Hauptallee, Sporthalle Brigittenau, and the BMX facility in Vösendorf.

At a media event on Tuesday in Vienna's City Hall, Sports State Secretary Michaela Schmidt, Vienna's Mayor Michael Ludwig, and Sport Austria President Hans Niessl presented the program. Schmidt emphasized that sports that are usually rarely in the spotlight will receive the attention they deserve: "Sports that are otherwise only rarely in the spotlight will receive the attention they deserve here." She added: "The Sport Austria Finals bring sports that often receive less visibility to the forefront and bundle them into a common, strong presentation."

Voices from Politics and Sports

Mayor Ludwig sees Vienna on the verge of a sporting event of superlatives: "Vienna is looking forward to a sporting event of superlatives. This event impressively shows how diverse, vibrant, and unifying sport can be." Niessl spoke of a "powerful exclamation mark for the diversity and performance of domestic sports."

The athletes also expressed their enthusiasm in advance. Straka raved about the Rathausplatz as an extraordinary backdrop: "The Rathausplatz offers an extraordinary backdrop, and I am incredibly excited to be able to compete there. You don't often experience competitions like this in the heart of a city." Table Football player Viktoria Ackerl spoke of a career highlight, while Mohr compared the atmosphere to the Olympics: "So many athletes from different disciplines in one place, that will be something very special, it has a bit of the feel of the Olympics." Tiefenthaler added: "An atmosphere where the whole city lives and breathes sport, like at the Olympic Games." Ernhofer focused on performance: "The focus should not be on the limitation, but on the performance."

Cathryn Binder-Taisser, Marketing Director of Decathlon Austria, highlighted the participatory days: "On the participatory days, visitors of all ages can get to know and try out different sports themselves – uncomplicated, accessible, and with lots of fun." The Finals will be broadcast live on ORF Sport+, and official information is available on the website sportaustriafinals.at.