|
The eighth annual Special Olympics European Football Week will be held 3-10 May 2008. An estimated 50,000 players with intellectual disabilities are expected to participate in football events in more than 50 countries throughout Europe/Eurasia. See calendar of events. (Excel 40KB)
 |
Moldova was the first National Program in the region to integrate the Special Olympics “Be a fan” campaign into its Football Week activities this year which included a series of local competitions for 400 Special Olympics players as well as a national tournament. Photo courtesy of Special Olympics Moldova |
This year the focus will be on community-based initiatives with an emphasis on volunteer coach recruitment and training and bringing young people with and without disabilities together to build awareness and tolerance on and off the playing field. Also during the week an 11-a-side regional tournament will be hosted in communities in Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany. Teams from 24 countries will compete in the tournament, the largest Special Olympics regional football event this year. The tournament runs from 2-8 May 2008.
“The Special Olympics European Football Week has become the standard bearer for football activities throughout the global Special Olympics movement,” said Michael Smith, Managing Director, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia. “Through this initiative, Special Olympics has been able to create one of the largest promotions for our movement, using football as an effective means to instill the values of acceptance, dignity, skill and inclusion in communities all over the world,” said Smith. “The Special Olympics European Football Week has been so successful that other regions in the world are planning to develop this promotion as a key part of the Special Olympics Global Football Initiative that aims to build awareness for the movement throughout the world, increase the number of players and attract new supporters,” he added.
 |
Kazakhstan kicked off Football Week by holding 14 regional tournaments and a national tournament for a total of 1550 Special Olympics players. Photo courtesy of Special Olympics Kazakhstan. |
Football Week is one of the highlights of the Special Olympics football development project which is supported by UEFA.
For information, contact Miroslaw Krogulec, Senior Manager, Organizational Development and Sports, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia, at mkrogulec@specialolympics.org
|
