|
Tbilisi tournament draws crowds, supporters and television cameras
 |
| Action on the pitch at the Sport Academy in Tbilisi. Photographer: Yuriy Mechitov |
Special Olympics Georgia organized a football tournament 23-24 April 2005 in Tbilisi. One hundred and twenty Special Olympics footballers from Tbilisi and six regions in the country competed in the event that was held at the Sport Academy. During the two-day tournament almost 500 people attended the event, including many family members and friends.
Opening Ceremonies, held 23 April, was attended by the Chairmen of the Sport and Culture and Education and Science Ministries, the Rector of the Sport Academy, and representatives from the Georgian Football Association.
The tournament was divided in two divisions with the semifinal, final and Awards Ceremonies held on 24 April. All participating teams received footballs, Special Olympics pins and watches as gifts.
 |
| Players, friends and family members were a great source of support for the Special Olympics players who competed in a high-spirited tournament. Photographer: Yuriy Mechitov |
Fifty volunteers were involved in event, most of them students from the Sport Academy; Special Olympics athletes and coaches were among the volunteers. Sport Academy students also organized a concert for Special Olympics footballers.
The tournament was broadcast on Rustavi 2, Mze and Imedi while two sports newspapers, Lelo and Sport, printed articles about the event.
Supporters for the tournament included several companies, Kazbegi, GG&MW Co. N.V. and Alioni Ltd. The Education and Science Ministry's Department for the protection of children's rights also took part in organizing the tournament.
FA continues to support Special Olympics football events in Iceland
 |
| Some of the young players hold up the specially designed poster for Special Olympics European Football Week. Photo courtesy of Special Olympics Iceland |
Special Olympics Iceland organized an indoor football competition at the new sports hall in Hafnarfjordur, near Reykjavik, on 23 April 2005. The 50 Special Olympics male and female players who competed were from six local clubs. As has become tradition, referees were from the Football Association of Iceland (FA) underscoring the excellent and ongoing cooperation between the FA and the Special Olympics National Program. Special Olympics players were welcomed by the chairman of the group that owns the new sports hall and the chairmen of Special Olympics Iceland and the FA. The players were given their medals by Pálin Helgadottir, a representative of Islandsbanki Sjóva, which has agreed to continue being Special Olympics Iceland’s sponsor until 2008.
Special Olympics footballers have exciting day at national training camp
 |
| National football star Paola Sousa gives tips to Special Olympics footballers. Photographer: Marian Murphy, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia |
Special Olympics footballers had a day of activities at the national football training camp in Lisbon on 21 April 2005. Twelve teams consisting of 170 male and female participants took part in competition and individual skills. The highlight of the event was meeting national football star Paola Sousa, former player with Juventus, Inter Milan and Benfica, who carried out a skills training session, discussed various football topics and signed autographs. "I am always happy to come out and support Special Olympics Portugal and had the pleasure of attending the World Summer Games in Dublin, which convinced me that Special Olympics is a fantastic organization," he said.
The event also was attended by Vicente Moura, President of the Portuguese Olympic Committee. "The Olympic Committee has long recognized the work of Special Olympics and will continue to identify ongoing means of support," he said.
 |
| Team Cercica celebrates its victory. Photographer: Marian Murphy, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia |
The national women's under-19 football team who were also on campus preparing for a European championship qualifier mixed among the Special Olympics athletes, offered some coaching tips and listened to Special Olympics players talk about their experiences.
International women's team coach and former Benfica player Jose Augusto remarked on the high level of skill evident throughout all teams.
Special Olympics Portugal is now embarking on an ambitious football development plan with a view to bringing 1,000 new athletes into the program.
Special Olympics Russia organized a 5-a-side indoor football tournament in St. Petersburg with 26 teams coming from throughout the country from 19-23 April 2005. The tournament was held at the largest indoor football facility in Europe, which is used by FC Zenit St. Petersburg, the top Russian Premier-Lige club, for training and friendly matches during the winter.
For some Special Olympics teams, traveling to the tournament required a great deal of time and patience. One team from Irkutsk spent seven days traveling by train while another traveled from Norylsk, 1,000 km above the Arctic Circle.
"In Norylsk we always have snow except for two weeks in the middle of June," said Genadij Jurevich, Special Olympics coach and sub-program coordinator. "We can only play indoor football so that is why this tournament is so important to us. Special Olympics is the only chance my players and coaches have to get away from all the snow and see grass and flowers."
Opening Ceremonies was held at the city's main concert hall which was filled to capacity with 6,000 spectators. Reports about the Ceremonies were covered on national television.
Forty university professors from 18 Russian universities who were attending a special conference on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Adapted Physical Education Faculty in the Lesghaft Sport Institute in St. Petersburg were invited to observe the tournament.
 |
| Action in Stavropol. Photo courtesy Special Olympics Russia |
Special Olympics Russia organized an indoor football tournament in Stavropol, located in the north Caucuses from 18-21 April 2005. Eleven teams from various boarding schools and residential facilities participated in the tournament which was held at a local sports complex. The players ranged in age from under 16 to 60 years old. Opening Ceremonies were attended by local and regional representatives of the ministries of education, social protection and sport. The local television company, ATV, filmed the ceremonies and awards presentation as well as some of the action on the pitch.
 |
| Players of all ages were proud to receive medals. Photo courtesy Special Olympics Russia |
On 19 April, during matches between professional clubs Dynamo, Stavropol and Nartkala, it was announced to spectators that the games were dedicated to Special Olympics footballers. Special Olympics footballers also were invited to a spectacular cultural program which included performances by young people with hearing and sight impairments. The Special Olympics Program in Stavropol is being supported by a USAID grant.
Forty students, aged 13-16, from special and mainstream schools in Kragujevac participated in a 7-a-side Unified Sports® football (soccer) tournament at the Stanislav Sremcevic mainstream school on 22 April 2005. "We are very happy to open our school doors to this project which teaches young people the most humanistic lessons in life," said Milan Bozovic, School Director.
 |
| Some of the 400 school-age students who took part in SO Get Into It lessons before attending a Unified event during Football Week. (Photo by Martha Jo Braycich, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia) |
The players were supported by 400 students from local special and mainstream schools who had all participated in Special Olympics Get Into It (SO Get Into It ) classes prior to the event. The Kragujevac tournament was the kick-off event for a one-year period of monthly SO Get Into It and Unified football tournaments in eight regions throughout Serbia and Montenegro. The application of the joint Special Olympics initiatives is part of a European project to build awareness among school-age children about people with intellectual disabilities and to create opportunities that bring young people with and without disabilities together in a highly participatory activity.
 |
| Coach Selimir Dordevic with his Unified team, including partner Bojan Somov (front row, far right). (Photo by Sabine Brecklinghaus, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia) |
Physical education coach Selimir Dordevic from Vukasin Markovic special school said there had been no activity between special and mainstream students before the Unified team had been formed, but the young players bonded immediately. The team has been training three times a week since February 2005. "At first, my colleagues and I were concerned about whether this idea would work, but it has because everyone loves football," said Dordevic. "It was easy for them to become a team and, more importantly, they formed friendships after practice. Our school is very happy to participate in this project."
 |
| Mujali Remzi, 15, a partner from the local Roma community, said: "I know that the SO Get Into It logo means that we are all friends and that we all have a chance in life." During 2005 the education authorities are focusing on inclusion issues, including bringing the Roma population into the community. (Photo by Martha Jo Braycich, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia) |
Bojan Somov, 15, a partner from the host school, said, "Football has always meant a lot to me. It means making friends, staying healthy, and staying off the streets and not getting involved in drugs. So when this opportunity came up to play I jumped at it. I did not care whether some of the players had an intellectual disability; I just want to play football. In fact, I met two guys from my neighborhood who go to the special school but we never hung out together. Now we do and it's fun to be on the team and with them."
He added: "Many of my friends think people with intellectual disabilities are different. I am sure participating in this project would change their attitude."
Special Olympics athlete Zlatko Stefanovic, 16, from another Unified team, echoed Somov's sentiments. "We all love football and now we have more opportunities to play, to make friends and it keeps us off the streets. It should be like this all the time."
Zorica Simic, head of the regional education authority that oversees 150 special and mainstream schools in the region, is delighted with the project. "The project brings young people together and teaches them about tolerance and acceptance and that the only difference between them is the color of their jerseys."
Five local television stations carried reports on the event.
On 23 April 2005, professional football (soccer) teams FK Crvena Zvezda and archrival FK Partizan set aside their quest for the domestic title at the 124th Belgrade Derby when they were united by their support for Special Olympics Serbia and Montenegro. Both teams wore Special Olympics T-shirts during warm-up and team presentation while 54,000 fans watched and listened to the announcer make a statement about Special Olympics European Football Week. The match was televised live throughout the country. Rade Miric, Special Olympics National Director, said that following similar presentations, young fans have asked for Special Olympics T-shirts. "The kids have told me that if the most popular players are wearing them, then they must be cool," he said.
 |
| (l-r) Dr Urs Linsi, FIFA General Secretary; Nicole Petignat, international FIFA referee; Timothy Shriver, Special Olympics Chairman and CEO; and Sylvia Frie, FIFA staff member and event organizer. Photographer: Beverley Hill, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia |
The third annual match with FIFA staff and Special Olympics players had a special visitor this year when Timothy Shriver, Special Olympics Chairman and CEO, came to see the players in action on 27 April 2005 in Zurich. Shriver admitted to being a little jealous, wishing he had brought along his football boots so he could join.
Before the match, FIFA General Secretary Urs Linsi welcomed players and guests to the sports grounds near the offices of FIFA, the world's governing body for football (soccer). Special Olympics players were from Schulheim Lerchenbühl in Burgdorf/Bergen.
Despite inclement weather an exciting game ensued and the final score was 10-8. The match was refereed by Nicole Petignat, international FIFA referee.
 |
| Timothy Shriver, CEO, Special Olympics, with Joseph S. Batter, FIFA President. Photographer: Beverley Hill, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia |
At a post-match reception at FIFA headquarters, guests were welcomed by Federico Addiechi, head of corporate social responsibility for FIFA. Shriver thanked Addiechi and colleague Sylvia Frei for organizing the event. "Being the biggest and most exciting sport in the world, football can bring us all together and make us one," Shriver said. "We are so happy that FIFA is bringing this message to the world."
After the reception, FIFA President Joseph S. Batter met briefly with Shriver to discuss the role of Special Olympics in the world of football and to look at possible areas of cooperation. "The work of Mr. Shriver and the Special Olympics organization is a very courageous and important one," Blatter said.
UEFA staff joined Special Olympics players on the pitch for a match that has become an annual fixture at the headquarters of the European governing body for football (soccer) in Nyon. This year, Markus Studer, Deputy CEO, joined the game that was held 26 April.
The Special Olympics players represented the Foundation Eben-Hezer, comprised of residential facilities for 400 children and adults with intellectual disabilities and located in the Swiss canton of Vaud. "The players have been waiting for this for a long time," said Antonio Valenzuela, Special Olympics Switzerland coach. "It's a dream come true for them to come and see UEFA because they love football." Didier Bonvin, Special Olympics Switzerland Sports Director, said, "Bringing our athletes to the match at UEFA is the highlight of our football calendar. They always leave with great memories of a special day."
|
