Media Release: Allianz Celebrates 'Unsung Heroes of Sport' who Bridge Social Divides to Create Connection
MUNICH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The role of sports in our society extends beyond just physical activity or competition. Sport teams foster social cohesion by bringing together people from a wide range of backgrounds around a shared passion. Allianz is proud to celebrate the unifying power of sport with the Unity Awards. This initiative shines a light on the everyday champions who use sport to shape values, build character and bridge social and cultural divides. Allianz invites local sports clubs, trainers, teammates or parents to share their personal 'unity through sport' story in a video by the end of June. The winners will receive public recognition and financial support to strengthen their community-building efforts.
A recent study by Allianz and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which surveyed 5,000 people aged 12 to 24 years, and 2,000 parents of 12- to 18-year-olds across 10 countries, showed that sport can provide a vital sense of belonging, joy, and hope. A total of 77% said sports help them to make new friends, 58% feel they belong to a community when playing, while 72% believe in the societal importance of sport.
These insights highlight the importance of supporting grassroots efforts and amateur clubs that acknowledge the power of sport to overcome division and bring people together – the sentiment which the Unity Awards seek to capture. The awards are a new initiative within Allianz's long-term 'Power of Unity' program that aims to overcome division and unite people around a shared cause in an increasingly polarized world.
'Most visibly demonstrated through our long-standing partnership with the Olympic and Paralympic Movements, Allianz strongly believes in the power of sport to unite people, says Global Head of Olympic and Paralympic Program at Allianz, Eike Bürgel. In addition to high-profile global partnerships, Allianz actively supports local sports clubs in its core markets. With the new Unity Awards, we want to celebrate the unsung heroes of sport – often volunteers – who inspire us with their dedication to teaching young people life values and the importance of standing united despite our differences.''
The Unity Awards build on Allianz's wide range of long-term partnerships in sports. The leading insurer is a strategic partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Movements and contributed to the successful organization of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024. Allianz will also be closely involved in the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 and is promoting safety in bobsled through a partnership with the German Bobsleigh, Luge, and Skeleton Federation. For many years, Allianz has also been a partner of FC Bayern and a sponsor of the men's and women's teams. With the Squared Ball initiative, Allianz helps young female players achieve their financial goals with confidence and know-how, and through the MoveNow program it promotes sports and exercise among young people.
Allianz launched the 'Power of Unity' program in November 2024 to help individuals and organizations to engage more constructively in the face of growing polarization worldwide. Through research, thought leadership, learning programs and events, it seeks to promote dialogue and respectful debate, bridge divides by encouraging mutual understanding, and restore trust in societal institutions.
Applying to the Unity Awards
Sports clubs that work towards reducing prejudice, building resilience, and challenging stereotypes by promoting tolerance, are welcome to apply for the Allianz Unity Awards.
How to participate
Application is open to individuals, teams, and clubs from amateur to professional levels who can demonstrate the use of sport to unite people. Coaches, teammates, club supporters, parents, or volunteers can be nominated or apply themselves.
To participate, applicants are invited to submit a short self-made video (under 30 seconds) sharing their personal 'unity through sport' story. Entries can be submitted either:
Through social media using the hashtag #AllianzUnityAwards, or
Via the Power of Unity content hub.
The application period runs from June 1-30, 2025.
Further details and information about the application process can be found here.
Selection and Recognition
Award recipients will be chosen in multiple categories including coach, teammate, club supporter, and parent. Winners will receive Unity jerseys, recognizing their contributions to fostering inclusion, addressing social challenges, and creating lasting impact through sport.
In addition to public recognition, winners will receive financial support from Allianz's MoveNow Fund to further their community efforts. This support may take the form of new team jerseys, clubhouse renovations, training workshops, or other needs identified by the recipients.
Selected stories will be featured throughout the campaign in Allianz communications, supported by user-generated content and an influencer campaign in the UK and Germany to extend reach beyond Allianz's own platforms.
About Allianz
The Allianz Group is one of the world's leading insurers and asset managers with around 128 million* private and corporate customers in nearly 70 countries. Allianz customers benefit from a broad range of personal and corporate insurance services, ranging from property, life and health insurance to assistance services to credit insurance and global business insurance. Allianz is one of the world's largest investors, managing around 768 billion euros** on behalf of its insurance customers. Furthermore, our asset managers PIMCO and Allianz Global Investors manage about 1.9 trillion euros** of third-party assets. Thanks to our systematic integration of ecological and social criteria in our business processes and investment decisions, we are among the leaders in the insurance industry in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. In 2024, over 156,000 employees achieved total business volume of 179.8 billion euros and an operating profit of 16.0 billion euros for the group.
* As of December 31, 2024. Including non-consolidated entities with Allianz customers.
** As of March 31, 2025.
Mandatory corporate information: Corporate disclosures
These assessments are, as always, subject to the disclaimer provided below.
Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements
This document includes forward-looking statements, such as prospects or expectations, that are based on management's current views and assumptions and subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results, performance figures, or events may differ significantly from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements.
Deviations may arise due to changes in factors including, but not limited to, the following: (i) the general economic and competitive situation in the Allianz's core business and core markets, (ii) the performance of financial markets (in particular market volatility, liquidity, and credit events), (iii) adverse publicity, regulatory actions or litigation with respect to the Allianz Group, other well-known companies and the financial services industry generally, (iv) the frequency and severity of insured loss events, including those resulting from natural catastrophes, and the development of loss expenses, (v) mortality and morbidity levels and trends, (vi) persistency levels, (vii) the extent of credit defaults, (viii) interest rate levels, (ix) currency exchange rates, most notably the EUR/USD exchange rate, (x) changes in laws and regulations, including tax regulations, (xi) the impact of acquisitions including related integration issues and reorganization measures, and (xii) the general competitive conditions that, in each individual case, apply at a local, regional, national, and/or global level. Many of these changes can be exacerbated by terrorist activities.
No duty to update
Allianz assumes no obligation to update any information or forward-looking statement contained herein, save for any information we are required to disclose by law.
Privacy Note
Allianz SE is committed to protecting your personal data. Find out more in our privacy statement.
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