fairplay initiative – introducing the team

 

Below our names you will find information about how we like to be addressed and the pronouns we use. We want to set a good example and point out that people's gender identity is not determined by their names or physical appearance. Gender-appropriate language is important and we look forward to a lively, respectful communication with you.

Eva Baumgartner 

Pronouns: she/her
Tel.: +43 1 713 35 94 - 63  
baumgartner@vidc.org

is responsible for public relations at fairplay.

She studied theatre, film and media studies at the University of Vienna and worked in the theatre and media sector for several years. At brut Wien she was responsible for marketing, sponsoring and public relations. At the ORF youth radio station FM4 she was a project manager in the marketing department where she realized numerous cultural cooperations and events. Furthermore she is a certified fitness- and health trainer and is active as a player and trainer at the sport club Vienna Roller Derby. 

Stefan Belabed 

Pronouns: he/him
Tel.: +43 1 713 35 94 - 94
belabed@remove-this.vidc.org

is a project officer at fairplay in the field of sports and social inclusion.

Previously, he was active in politics and trade unions in Austria and abroad, as well as in communications for a scientific company. His focus areas included social affairs, integration, labor market, youth and political education. Currently he is also co-coaching a team of the Viennese educational project 'Kicken ohne Grenzen'.

He studied political science in Vienna and Aix-en-Provence and is a graduate of the Global Studies Program (MA) in Berlin, Buenos Aires and New Delhi.

David Hudelist 

Pronouns: he/him
Tel.: +43 1 713 35 94 - 72
hudelist@remove-this.vidc.org

is a project officer at fairplay and responsible for social inclusion, education and projects in the Western Balkans.

He led the anti-racism activities and fan support during the UEFA EURO 2008 in Klagenfurt. From 2012 to 2015 he established the coordination office for social preventive fan work. Since 2017 he has overseen the Football Zajedno project in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia. He is a football trainer and player, mountain guide, health and vitality coach, trainer at the University Sports Institute (USI) and organises sports and football camps.
He studied social work at the Carinthian University of Applied Sciences and the University of Ljubljana. His thesis was on anti-racism and fan work in football. As part of his doctoral studies in sociology at the University of Vienna, he worked on the topic "Social integration of young people with a migration background through football".

Arman Noori Pour

Pronouns: he/him
+43 1 713 35 94 - 87
nooripour@remove-this.vidc.org

is a project manager at fairplay and is responsible for fairplay prevention – point of contact against dehumanizing ideologies.

After completing his apprenticeship in sports retail, he changed industries and started working as a project manager for a PR agency in the heart of Vienna, developing public relations, CSR projects and marketing concepts for international companies, for well-known top European football clubs, among others.

He previously worked in the football industry and in sports management for several national clubs. Parallel to his work in football he was employed by the Federal Chancellery as Sports Director for the NGO "Not in God's Name" and was in charge of the association nationwide for more than 5 years, focusing on radicalization and antisemitism.

He is currently attending Steinbeis University Berlin, where he is studying business administration with a focus on football business at the VfL Wolfsburg Campus, at the German national league club of the same name.

In his free time, he mainly devotes himself to MMA - with wrestling as his main discipline.

Markus Pinter

Pronouns: he/him
Tel.: +43 1 713 35 94 - 93
pinter@remove-this.vidc.org

works as project officer for the fairplay initiative for diversity and anti-discrimination.

He supervises projects in the field of anti-discrimination as well as the Football Zajedno project, coordinates the cooperation with and support of grassroots initiatives and sports clubs in the organisation of days of action and is responsible for financial management, budget planning and project accounting as well as reporting, including the Erasmus+ projects. From 2012 to 2019 he was a member of the board of the European FARE network.
He has a master's degree in political science and journalism and communication science at the University of Vienna. In 2011 he participated in the seminar "Finance and Controlling in NPOs" at the NPO Academy Vienna.

Michael Schmied

Pronomen: he/him
+43 1 713 35 94-84
schmied@remove-this.vidc.org

works as a project officer at fairplay and is responsible for the area fairplay prevention – point of contact against dehumanizing ideologies.

He organizes public events, training sessions and workshops, and initiates awareness-raising campaigns to demonstrate effective measures against misanthropical ideologies.

Previously, he was the festival director of this human world – International Human Rights Film Festival for four years. He is still involved in the association Delta Cultura Austria on a voluntary basis and organizes a charity football tournament for the benefit of the Education Centre Tarrafal in Cape Verde. 

He holds a Master's degree in International Development at the University of Vienna with a focus on the consequences of mega-events on the spatial and social changes that accompany them.

Nikola Staritz

Pronouns: she/her
Tel.: +43 1 713 35 94 - 96
staritz@remove-this.vidc.org

is project officer at fairplay and responsible for the area of ​​anti-discrimination.

She oversees international and national projects in the areas of anti-discrimination and inclusive sport cultures, antihomophobia and women & girls in sport. She has published on the topics of sport and gender relations and represents fairplay in the working group "Prevention of sexual violence". Since August 2020 she has been a board member of the ombudsman's office "football for everyone" supporting LGBT athletes in football.
Master's degree in political science and library science. Former handball and football player, active football coach.

Hanna Stepanik 

Pronouns: she/her
Tel.:  +43 1 713 35 94 - 66 
stepanik@remove-this.vidc.org

is a project officer at fairplay in the area of sport, development and human rights.

She supports two nationwide projects on the topics of sport, sustainable development and human rights through coordinative work, campaigning, education and awareness-raising measures, event organization, networking and collaboration in public relations and information work. Previously, she worked at the University of Vienna as a project assistant and at the dance charity South East Dance (Brighton/UK) for fundraising and project evaluation.
Doctoral studies and Master's degree in International Development at the University of Vienna (semester abroad at the University of Chicago), Master's degree in "Media Practice for Development and Social Change" at the University of Sussex.

Anna Traninger

Pronomen: she/her
+43 1 713 35 94-83
traninger@remove-this.vidc.org

is a project officer at fairplay and is responsible for the area fairplay prevention – point of contact against dehumanizing ideologies.

She works on building and coordinating the Prevention service and is in charge of international and national cooperations as well as educational and awareness-raising measures. Ongoing surveys and organization of events on anti-human ideologies in sport.

Previously, she worked for the Viennese Homeless Assistance, focussing on LGBTQIA*-homelessness as well as empowerment through sports. She studied International Development at the University of Vienna and is training Boxing and Thai Boxing.

 

Kurt Wachter 

Pronouns: he/him
Tel.:  +43 1 713 35 94 - 90 
wachter@remove-this.vidc.org

is head of fairplay with a focus on EU application coordination, sport & development and social inclusion through sport.   

He founded the fairplay initiative at the VIDC in 1997. From 1999 to 2009 he was coordinator of the Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) network. He has led several EU projects, including Queering Football, Sport Welcomes Refugees, SPIN Women and SPIN Refugees and has published on Football in Africa. As a freelance journalist, he has reported on seven editions of the Africa Cup so far.
Studied Ethnology and African Studies at the University of Vienna and University of Cape Coast (Ghana). Completion of a master's degree in "Sport and Development" at Southampton Solent University.

Michaela Wengler

Pronomen: she/her
+43 1 713 35 94-64
wengler@remove-this.vidc.org

is a project officer at fairplay in the field of sport, development and human rights.

She is in charge of two nationwide projects on the topics of sport, sustainable development and human rights. Her responsibilities include the organisation of campaigns, events and activities, as well as networking, public relations and information work. Previously, she worked in the sports industry and as a cultural mediator in Austria and the Caribbean. In her free time, she mainly devotes herself to (beach) volleyball - both as a coach and as an active player.

Master's degree in history with a focus on global history. Special research interests in the areas of post- and decolonialism and global education, historical epistemology, and the history of travel.

Consultants


Bella Bello Bitugu

Pronouns: he/him
University of Ghana, Sport Directorate 
bbbitugu@remove-this.ug.edu.gh

is an expert on development through sport. He taught at the University of Innsbruck for 15 years and coordinated several projects, including "Football for Development" at the VIDC. After 20 years in Austria he moved to Ghana and was Country Manager of Right To Play Ghana from 2012 to 2013. Since 2013 Dr. Bitugu is Director of the Sports Department of the University of Ghana. He teaches sport sociology at the FH Kufstein Tirol and offers expert and consulting services in the field of development through sport.


Georg Spitaler

Pronouns: he/him
Football and Migration 
georg.spitaler@remove-this.vga.at

is a political scientist and historian, he received his doctorate in 2005 on "Media Sports and Symbolic Politics in Austria". In his research, he is intensively involved with sport and politics, has teaching positions at numerous Austrian universities, is co-editor of the football magazine ballesterer and research assistant at the Verein für Geschichte der ArbeiterInnenbewegung (VGA).