A heart for sport: Volunteers have been farewelled into their volunteer retirement
Without volunteers no biathlon sport: around 800 volunteers support the BMW IBU World Cup Biathlon 2025 in Oberhof. Five long-standing supporters, including Pia Trübenbach as former Cottage Village Manager and Raimund Au as former Head of Security head of security, have been honored after years of commitment to winter sports.
Pia Trübenbach was lured under a pretext to the ARENA am Rennsteig ‘I was told to bring a box into the stadium,’ says the 32-year-old. In fact she was surprised with her official farewell as head of the department in front of 20,500 biathlon fans.
She was the mayor of the cottage village for six years. As the person in charge, Pia Trübenbach coordinated clubs and service providers and was their first point of contact - and thus a key position for the care of the fans. After the Biathlon World Cup in January 2024, she handed over her task to Tim Eisner. ‘When I came here today, I actually felt a bit melancholy and had to fight with myself for a moment. It was strange that I'm no longer in the position. I briefly questioned my decision for a moment,” admits the Thuringian, who was already involved in the organisation before her time as cottage village boss.
Together with Raimund Au, she was awarded on todays Saturday with the Johann Christoph Friedrich GutsMuths bronze badge of honor from the Thuringia State Sports Association (Landessportbund Thüringen e.V.) in the ARENA am Rennsteig between the two pursuit races today, and retired as a helper.
‘It's great to see so many familiar faces again. I handed over my duties to my successor last year and know that everything is in perfect order. That's why I was able to enjoy the races today and be here as a fan,’ says the 65-year-old, who started as a steward in 2018 and became head of security in 2021. After retiring, he handed over the position to Philipp Körner.
Petra Kühn was in tears. The dedicated woman from Vesser has been awarded the silver badge of honor of the Landessportbund Thüringen e.V. - as a thank you for her commitment at the club WSV Schmiedefeld and as a speaker at numerous winter sports events. ‘I do it for the joy of the sport, not to get a medal,’ says the 58-year-old
who has also been a member of the organising committee for the Biathlon World Cup since years and is involved in the supporting program.
Already on Thursday, steward Theo Weiß as well as Falk Paul and Carsten Paul, who worked in the driving service, were bid farewell. On the Thuringian Forest event stage stage, boss of the organising committee Bernd Wernicke presented the long-serving volunteers with gifts - a wooden trophy with biathlon motifs and the biography of Denise Herrmann-Wick.’ Every single volunteer is worth gold for the event. That's why I never tire of emphasising that they are the heart of the Oberhof Biathlon World Cup. We are very grateful for their tireless efforts,’ he says.
Even though the volunteers have said farewell to their positions: They remain loyal to the sport. ‘I still volunteer here and there. I was at the European Football Championships in the summer and will also be at the German Gymnastics Festival,’ says Raimund Au. Pia Trübenbach is now a referee. ‘So if someone comes and asks for more mulled wine, I'm no longer in charge,’ she says with a laugh.
Photos for your free use:
Photo: 250111_Awarding volunteers (1)
Caption: Petra Kühn has been awarded the silver badge of honor of the Thüringer Skiverband e.V., Raimund Au and Pia Trübenbach (from left) have received the Johann Christoph Friedrich GutsMuths badge of honor in bronze from the Landessportbund Thüringen e.V. (Thuringia State Sports Association).
Photo source: Nina Kolarzik/Oberhofer Sport und Event GmbH
Photo: 250111_Award for volunteers (2)
Caption: Falk Paul, Carsten Paul and Theo Weiß (from left) were bid farewell on the Thuringian Forest event stage in the hut village. OC boss Bernd Wernicke (right) thanked them for their tireless efforts.
Photo source: Nico Jonscher/Oberhofer Sport und Event GmbH