Partnership will help develop the sport of football and reach up to
50,000 athletes
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At the CONMEBOL/Special Olympics partnership signing (from left): Special Olympics Latin America Managing Director Dennis Brueggemann, Special Olympics Paraguay President Irma Cuevas, Special Olympics Latin America Sports Development Manager Christian Guiralt, Special Olympics Paraguay athletes Alberto Aguilera and Mario Medina, Special Olympics Latin America Organizational Development Director Carmen Rosa López and CONMEBOL President Dr. Nicolás Leoz. |
On 1 December 2005, during the team drawing for the most important football (soccer) tournament in South America, the Copa Libertadores, Special Olympics Latin America signed an agreement with the South America Football Confederation (CONMEBOL.). CONMEBOL General Secretary Eduardo De Luca publicly announced the agreement and described Special Olympics and its mission on a live broadcast by FOX Spots television network to millions of people in more than 30 countries in the region.
The agreement establishes a strategic alliance for the next three years to further develop the sport of football and reach up to 50,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities across South America. The Presidents of all 10 National Football Federations, who are members of the CONMEBOL Executive Committee, welcome this alliance and are fully committed to working with Special Olympics Programs on specific events and strategies for raising awareness and reaching more athletes.
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Special Olympics Paraguay athletes Alberto Aguilera and Mario Medina with the Copa Libertadores. |
The signing took place at the office of the President of CONMEBOL in Asunción. Participating on behalf of CONMEBOL were President Dr. Nicolás Leoz, Vice President Eugenio Figueredo, General Secretary De Luca, Board Member Nicolás Delfino, and the Presidents of the 10 football federations. Representing Special Olympics Latin America were Regional Managing Director Dennis Brueggemann, Organizational Development Director Carmen Rosa López, Manager of Spots Development Christian Guiralt, Special Olympics Paraguay President Irma Cuevas, and Special Olympics athletes Alberto Aguilera and Mario Medina.
Special Olympics and CONMEBOL representatives emphasized the importance of the agreement, agreeing that by the development and consolidation of football activities in the region, people with intellectual disabilities will have more and better quality training and competition options. "With this agreement, football becomes a means of development, not only as a sport, but also as a platform that will make communities across the region aware of the abilities of people with intellectual disabilities," said Brueggemann. "In addition, the athletes will have more opportunities for physical and social development, becoming recognized for their capabilities and not for their limitations."
Athlete Mario Medina expressed, on behalf of the thousands of Special Olympics football players, his appreciation to CONMEBOL for this opportunity, and he emphasized that "many dreams will come true after signing this agreement. We are great sports people and now we have a wonderful opportunity to continue improving and will be able to show it in the football world."
"We are very pleased with the signing of this agreement," said Dr. Leoz. "Now we will establish joint ventures with each Special Olympics national Program, and together we will be able to achieve many things."
During the following weeks, the Special Olympics Latin America Office will be contacting each national Program, as well as the football federations and associations, to establish the immediate strategies to follow in order to develop this project.
The CONMEBOL agreement is another milestone in Special Olympics Latin America's plan for the development of sports in the region, which involves establishing agreements with regional and national sports federations. In November, Special Olympics Latin America representatives attended the Ordinary Congress of the South America Tennis Confederation (COSAT) in Quito, Ecuador, to present a proposed agreement between that organization and Special Olympics.
At the meeting, Special Olympics Ecuador athletes expressed what COSAT support would mean to them: "I have been able to achieve many things as a person through Special Olympics," said one athlete. "I am now preparing myself to become a coach and to open my arms to all athletes. I know that all of you, from now on, will also open your arms to all my fellow athletes." The date for the formal signing of the agreement will be set soon, although Special Olympics has already begun working with COSAT and the associations that make up the confederation. |
