The combined team of the Kings, Sponsi, received the 57th Kékszalag KPMG Fair Play Award

By: Trademagazin Date: 2025. 07. 11. 11:27

The 57th Kékszalag Raiffeisen Grand Prix ended with the awards ceremony on Saturday, which, in addition to the competition in more than thirty boat classes, also added a variety of party programs and a festival atmosphere to the summer on the shores of Lake Balaton. Among the best of the event, not only the fastest catamaran, monohull, women’s team or the oldest and youngest competitors were recognized, but this year too, the KPMG Fair Play Award, which rewards sportsmanship and teamwork, was presented.

This time, the award was won by the Sponsi team, whose history is a true example of camaraderie and the fight for common goals. On the Monday before the competition, a real hurricane swept through the area between Balatonfüred and Alsóörs, in which several boats that were waiting for the day of the competition on the shore were also damaged. These boats were simply knocked off their stands by the gale. Among them were the Raffica and René, two of the Libera type boats with a chance in the monohull class, which are also connected by the fact that they belong to the same team. According to the team’s traditions, experienced sailors start with Raffica under the helm of the father, Zsolt Király, while the up-and-coming youngsters go with René under the leadership of the son, Dávid Király. Both boats were seriously damaged in the storm, so the two generations joined forces, and from the remaining masts, rigging, ballast and sails of the two boats, as well as a third – unused – hull, they built an essentially new boat in two days.

The hull, the Sponsor Wanted, which once ran also beautiful races, has been called Sponsi for some time, so it was entered for the race under this name. Thanks to this, the team members – including talented young sailors – were able to be there at the starting line and, despite the strong winds, they heroically stood their ground with a boat that had been completed just hours before the race.

“The exemplary teamwork, perseverance, commitment to competition and the love of sailing and sportsmanship of the two crews perfectly reflect the spirit that we would like to recognize with the KPMG Fair Play Award. This year, more than 30 boats were damaged during the race or in the storm before it due to the strong winds, and each of them could safely count on the help of competitors nearby. It is great to see how powerful this has been in the history of the team united in Sponsi”

– emphasized Rezső Rózsai, CEO of KPMG Hungary, founder of the Fair Play Award and jury member, who personally presented the award.

This year’s Fair Play Award is about both sporting competition and the power of selfless cooperation, which can mobilize forces that create opportunities even in the most difficult situations. Sponsi and his friends have undoubtedly proven all of this this year.