The most emotional moment at Friday’s EJU gala after the 75th anniversary congress in BELGRAD (SRB) had an Austrian-Moldovan connection. The EJU Fair Play Award of the (past) year was presented to the world number one and newly crowned European champion Denis VIERU (-66/MDA). At the Austrian national league final in Gmunden, the 27-year-old left the gold medal he had won (as a Galaxy legionnaire) to nine-year-old volunteer René Weibel. René speaks Hungarian, had approached the legionnaire at lunch and asked him questions.
In Belgrade, a video was presented of René, who thanked him profusely for the gold medal. It was then that everyone in the room realised that Denis Vieru’s action was anything but a “simple PR stunt”. Tears of emotion rolled down the European champion’s cheeks during the interview with presenter Szandra SZOGEDI. “I’m very happy about René’s words. I didn’t realise how important this gesture was to him. It’s nice to be a role model as an athlete! Thank you very much for this award – it’s an honour.”
In Belgrade, a video was presented of René, who thanked him profusely for the gold medal. It was then that everyone in the room realised that Denis Vieru’s action was anything but a “simple PR stunt”. Tears of emotion rolled down the European champion’s cheeks during the interview with presenter Szandra SZOGEDI. “I’m very happy about René’s words. I didn’t realise how important this gesture was to him. It’s nice to be a role model as an athlete! Thank you very much for this award – it’s an honour.”
Author: EJU Media