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Alexander B. receives the Wiesn Courage Award 2023

Great civil courage in the beer tent

The winner of the Wiesn Courage Award, which was awarded as part of the WiesnGentleman* prevention project, has been chosen! Of all the entries, it was Alexander B.'s story that made the greatest impression on the jury. Mayor Dieter Reiter presented the winner with the Wiesn-Courage-Glupperl on Friday, September 29, at Käfer Wiesn-Schänke. In addition, the 2023 Wiesn Courage Award winner received the main prize, a pair of lederhosen from Angermaier X Distorted People.

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Mayor Dieter Reiter (center) awards Alexander B. the Wiesn Courage Prize.

Not looking the other way, but helping

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Wiesn boss Clemens Baumgärtner and Mayor Dieter Reiter thank Alexander B. for his civil courage.

Alexander B. (26 years old) was celebrating with work colleagues in the Paulaner Wiesn tent on the evening of September 22. They already had a table around 4 p.m. Around 7:30 p.m., two women joined them at their table. They celebrated extensively and had a lot of fun. One of the two women drank a little too much and was drunk as a result. When a man from the neighboring table noticed this, he became pushy despite repeated refusals.

Alexander B. and his friends immediately intervened on behalf of the table neighbor to put an end to the unwanted approach. In addition, Alexander B. ordered her a measure of non-alcoholic drink. Later, he discussed with her friend how both of them could get back to the hotel safely.

Prominent jury selected the winner

This year's jury, consisting of WiesnGentleman* main ambassador Stefan Murr (actor), Johanna Bittenbinder (actress), Max von Thun (actor), Peter Inselkammer (Wiesnwirt of the Armschützenzelt and spokesman for the Wiesnwirte), Otto Lindinger (Wiesnwirt of Bodo's Cafézelt & Cocktailbar and spokesman for the small Wiesn tents) and Clarissa Käfer (Feinkost Käfer) selected the winner of the Wiesn Courage Award 2023 from the experiences sent in.

"Looking out for others and not just yourself"

"It is important," said Alexander B., "to also look out for your neighbors." Mayor Dieter Reiter emphasized, "When many people come together and celebrate together, it is especially important that everyone looks out for each other. This is especially true at the Oktoberfest. Alexander B. did not just watch, but intervened and showed civil courage. We need more people like Alexander at the Wiesn!". According to the mayor, he hopes that at some point there will no longer be a need for incentives so that all people behave respectfully and prudently at the Oktoberfest. But until then, he said, it's important to have the Wiesn Courage Award.

Condrobs board member Frederik Kronthaler stressed that respect, solidarity and civil courage are of great importance: "The Wiesn Courage Award, like our prevention project Wiesngentleman*, is non-political, unisex and Bavarian - like the Bavarians' motto for life: Everyone according to his own façon or live and let live."

Wiesn Courage Award winner grateful

Alexander B. was very grateful that he had prevailed with his experience with the jury. "I am very happy about this award," said the young man. "Helping someone when the situation calls for it is natural for me."

After a few photos and interviews, the winner of the Wiesn Courage Award still enjoyed the traditional lunch at Käfer Wiesn-Schänke, to which he was invited after the award ceremony.

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Wiesn boss Clemens Baumgärtner, Wiesn city councilor Anja Berger, Frederik Kronthaler (Condrobs board member), award winner Alexander B, Katrin Bahr (Condrobs board member), Stefan Murr (actor, WiesnGentleman* jury member and main ambassador) and Patrick Hey (head of department for prevention and outpatient services at Condrobs).

What distinguishes a Wiesn Courage Award winner?

Whether it's helping out in dicey situations or standing up for decency and peaceful coexistence: showing respect and civil courage goes in different ways. Anyone who stays cool in heated situations, respects personal boundaries and is willing to help others deserves this award. Civil courage, however, does not mean putting oneself in danger, but getting help. Condrobs awards the Wiesn-Courage prize on behalf of many who stand up for a peaceful Oktoberfest. The winner of the Wiesn Courage Award 2023 was selected by a jury from the experiences submitted and will receive a pair of lederhosen from Angermaier X Distorted People as a prize.

WiesnGentleman* and the Wiesn Streetwork

Condrobs promotes respect and civil courage during the Oktoberfest. In order to spread this message far and wide, the Wiesn Courage Award and the WiesnGentleman* prevention project, which is under the patronage of the mayor, are the main activities. Every day from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Condrobs employees at Esperantoplatz sensitize Wiesn visitors to respect each other's boundaries and to behave in a fair and respectful manner. With speeches at the WiesnGentleman* booth, advertising measures in e.g. subway stations, prevention campaigns at schools and youth centers, etc., more than 700,500 people could be reached.

In addition, Condrobs street workers are out and about in the area around the Festwiese on weekends and holiday evenings. They help especially the young Wiesn visitors in trouble between 7 and 11 p.m. with immediate measures: They locate friends, calm down in difficult situations, discuss how to get home safely, call the police or emergency services if necessary, or refer people to the "Sichere Wiesn" (Safe Oktoberfest). The close cooperation with the "Sichere Wiesn" project, the police, the rescue service and the youth protection department of the city youth welfare office enables immediate, fast and concrete prevention and help.