Triathlon ace not

E-sportsman continues to be paid for gaming

This is how Özelt celebrated the Austrian FIFA title in 2023.(Bild: ZVG)

Contract extended! Carinthian computer gamer Fabio Özelt will continue to be paid by the army for gambling. Curious: A real athlete with three Olympic qualifications does not get a place in the army and has to finance everything himself . . .

Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner proudly presented him in 2021 - the first computer player in military sports: Fabio Özelt from Villach, whose expiring contract has now been extended. This means that the 21-year-old will receive a net salary of around 1500 euros per month and can continue to make his "sport" his profession at the HLSZ Faak. Especially as Fabio also became Austrian FIFA champion on the Playstation for Red Bull Salzburg in March 2023.

E-athlete Fabio Özelt(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Triathlon ace on his own
Great for the boy, but an affront for real athletes. Top triathlete Lisa Perterer from Villach - who has qualified for the Olympics three times - was no longer given a place in the army and has to pay for everything herself! This also infuriates regional sports director Arno Arthofer: "Lisa is well on her way to Paris - who can boast four Olympic qualifications? We have many initiatives for regular exercise. Computer players are not really what we want."

HLSZ-Faak boss Andi Lindner defends his protégé: "I was also skeptical at first. But Fabio trains strength and stamina every day, does concentration exercises and focuses everything on that. It's not just pure gambling, it's a sport!" But that's where opinions differ...