The first Team Estiko scholarship recipients were ceremoniously announced in Tartu. Interest in the €150,000 sports fund was remarkable: a total of 651 applications were submitted, confirming how important and vibrant a part of everyday life sports is for people in Estonia.
When creating Team Estiko, the Estiko Group aimed not merely to establish a new support fund, but to lay the foundation for a movement that supports sports in a value-based and holistic way. The number of applications and the richness of the stories already showed how meaningful this opportunity is for athletes, coaches, and teams.
According to Estiko Group CEO Kristo Seli, the large number of applications demonstrates how much Estonian sports needs supporters. “The applicants’ determination, courage, and ability to motivate themselves highlighted clearly that Estonia has many talented athletes who do not wait for opportunities but create them themselves,” said Kristo Seli.
Among high-performance athletes, the scholarship was awarded to Karel Tilga (decathlon), Rasmus Mägi (hurdles), Emma-Melis Aktas (judo), Richard Karelson (wrestling), and Keidy and Kaidy Kaasiku (both cross-country skiing).
Among young athletes, the selected recipients were Oskar Kobin (running, para-athlete), Tristan Konso (decathlon), Viola Hambidge (hurdles), Diana Johanna Vanamb (combined events), Eliisa Kikerpill (fencing), Jakob Vares (judo), Sten-Eerik Iir (discus throw), Lisette Böttker (wrestling), Siim Kesküla (swimming), Ksenia Bažanova (swimming), Emily Kodanik (cycling), Kaarel Kiiver (rowing), Gerda Kivil (skiing), Ralf Kivil (skiing), and Pilleriin Vilipuu (biathlon).
Among coaches, scholarships were awarded to Indrek Tobreluts (biathlon) and Martti Aljand (swimming), and among teams to the University of Tartu basketball club and the Acros Gymnastics Club.
Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Estiko Group, Neinar Seli, emphasized that supporting sports must become a normal and natural part of Estonian society. “The quiet and often unnoticed work of coaches lays the foundation for athletes’ success, and the role of families is often even greater, as they keep the athlete’s dream burning even when the athlete themselves may sometimes hesitate,” said Neinar Seli.