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In March, the Luxembourg Football Association and Special Olympics Luxembourg invited a team from Special Olympics Belarus to visit Luxembourg for the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying game in Luxembourg. UEFA Euro is the European national team competition.
A Special Olympics Belarus team from Borisov was able to go to Luxembourg thanks to financial support from the Belarus Football Federation and professional team FC Bate Borisov Bate which covered travel costs.
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Young Special Olympics Romania footballers join national teams on the pitch prior to kick off. Photo courtesy of Special Olympics Romania. |
Special Olympics footballers had the chance to train with First League coach Jacques Muller, who is also president of the coaches association in Luxembourg. The players then competed in a match officiated by Aby Toussaint, a FIFA referee from Luxembourg.
Both teams watched the qualifying match, which Belarus won. In the evening, Special Olympics Belarus footballers returned home, joining their jubilant national team on the flight back.
Meanwhile, in Romania, Special Olympics Romania signed partnerships with McDonald's Romania and the Romanian Football Federation regarding the participation of Special Olympics footballers in four games of the national football team in the preliminary games for Euro 2008, organized in Romania. The first took place in March in Piatra Neamt, against Luxemburg. Twenty-two Special Olympics Romania footballers were kitted out in great sports gear donated by McDonald's Romania. In total, 92 uniforms will be given during the four games. Special Olympics footballers joined the two national teams on the pitch at the beginning of the game.
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Special Olympics footballers from Luxembourg and Belarus during their training and competition. Photo courtesy of Special Olympics Luxembourg. | |
