Intersport Austria and Mastercard Grant €50,000 to Ten Youth Sports Projects

In a major boost to grassroots athletics, Intersport Austria and Mastercard have awarded a combined total of €50,000 to support ten youth-focused sports clubs across Austria.

The financial initiative directly funds infrastructure, equipment, training programs, and accessibility projects designed to make organized sports more inclusive for children and young athletes, including those with disabilities.

Broad-Based Support Across Diverse Disciplines

Following an application process open from April through June, an expert panel evaluated candidate clubs on social value, feasibility, and long-term community benefits. The ten selected organizations span a wide range of athletic pursuits:

• Field & Team Sports: Football (soccer), flag football, baseball, handball, floorball, and cheerleading

• Court & Combat Sports: Volleyball and boxing

• Individual & Outdoor Sports: Speed skating and orienteering

How Shoppers Raised the €50,000 Pool

The funding pool was generated directly through Intersport shoppers in Austria. For every payment made using a Mastercard between April 13 and June 7 in Austrian Intersport retail stores or online, €0.30 was automatically contributed until the €50,000 target was achieved.

"By supporting these projects, we want to help dedicated clubs realize their ideas and inspire even more children and young people to participate in sports and exercise," explained Franz Koll, Managing Director of Intersport Austria.

VIP Finale in Salzburg

To cap off the initiative, representatives from the ten winning clubs gathered in Salzburg on August 12. The celebratory itinerary featured an insider tour of the Red Bull Academy followed by live attendance at the 2026 UEFA Super Cup at the Red Bull Arena, where Paris Saint-Germain defeated Aston Villa 2–1.