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Poland (red) and Great Britain (blue) battle for the ball. |
The 2008 Special Olympics European 11-a-side Football Cup was held 2-8 May 2008 in Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany. Special Olympics Austria and Special Olympics Switzerland jointly hosted the event, in partnership with Special Olympics Liechtenstein and Special Olympics Germany to capture the excitement and passion of football for players with intellectual disabilities. The Cup involved 550 Special Olympics footballers from 24 countries in 11-a-side competitions held in communities around Lake Constance. It is the largest regional Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia football tournament this year.
On the evening of 3 May over 500 guests, including representatives of the Austrian national government, the regional government of Vorarlberg, sponsors and celebrities such as opera legend Jose Carreras attended Opening Ceremonies in Festspielhaus in Bregenz, Austria.
Special Olympics Global Messenger Patrick Brehmer, 31, from Germany, was one of the key speakers and received enthusiastic applause from the audience. “Football is one of the most important kinds of sports. Anyone can play football. All you need is a ball. The interest in football unites people, no matter where they come from and if they have a disability or not,” Brehmer said.
Teams and guests watched a spectacular show with top Austrian performers like Reinhold Bilgeri, Marque and Christine Nachbauer and German band Fool's Garden.
The Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics started with the Special Olympics Flame of Hope being carried by helicopter to the center of Bregenz. Then it was carried with an escort of 80 Austrian law enforcement officers and six Special Olympics Austria athletes through the old city and along the shores of the lake until it reached the Festspielhaus. The run was organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior.
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The tournament's cauldron stands high against the backdrop of the Alps. |
On 4 May matches with local sport stars, government officials, musicians and Special Olympics players were organized prior to divisioning rounds.
From 4-7 May, Special Olympics players competed in six divisions at venues in nine cities: St. Gallen and Wil (Switzerland), Bregenz, Schwarzenberg, and Bludenz (Austria) and Lindau (Germany), and Vaduz, Ruggell and Eachen (Liechtenstein).
Mayors greeted teams and each host city provided excellent competition facilities and social and tourist programs. S.A.S. Princess Nora of Liechtenstein, president of the Special Olympics program, hosted four teams at a reception at the Vaduz Castle.
Special Olympics footballers who were accommodated in Liechtenstein had the chance to take part in a Healthy Athletes FunFitness screening. The two-day screening was run by local physiotherapists and sports clubs. Sixty-four Special Olympics players were screened.
Approximately 100 family members attended the tournament, including parents from Great Britain. “Parents who traveled with us not only supported their own sons, but the entire team as well,” said Elaine McKenna, Head of Delegation, for the Special Olympics Great Britain team.
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Romanian players celebrating a goal. |
Over 500 individuals volunteered for the tournament. McKenna had high praise for the volunteers who assisted the Great Britain team. “Beate and Wolfgang Letner from Bludenz took the players to their hearts. Neither of them had seen players respond with such dignity and resilience when they were defeated on the pitch. They could not do enough for the team: from helping with transportation to finding needed items in local shops. After this experience, Beate said she wants to start volunteering for Special Olympics Austria.”
The Cup had tremendous support from football federations, local football clubs, government, social organizations and sponsors while more than 50 schools around the lake started Special Olympics fan clubs, served as volunteers, and came to matches as spectators as part of ongoing Special Olympics SO Get Into It® development.
During the tournament an estimated 5,000 people became fans of Special Olympics players in one way or another. Their enthusiasm, interest and action ensured that Special Olympics footballers experienced the best playing conditions while enjoying the hospitality of communities situated in the picturesque setting around Lake Constance.
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That's using your head! All photos by Adam Nurkiewicz |
There was excellent media coverage from all host countries which have access to each other's broadcasts in particular. ORF, Austrian National Television, was a sponsor. Both ORF and Germany's Bayerischer Rundfunk produced promotional spots about the event that were transmitted 20 times before it began. During the tournament, broadcasters transmitted short reports on a daily basis. On Sport Plus, Austria's sports channel, there was an 18-minute report on the tournament. One popular Austrian daily, Die Presse, dedicated a four-page spread in a follow-up feature.
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