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Highlight event will be a regional tournament hosted in communities in Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany
(BRUSSELS, Belgium, 22 April, 2008) — 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.
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Download print version (English) (Adobe PDF file, 24K) of this press release; Russian (Adobe PDF file, 22K) |
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.
Football Week is one of the highlights of the Special Olympics football development project which is supported by UEFA.
Special Olympics, founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, is the world's largest year-round program of sports training and competitions for individuals with intellectual disabilities. More than 2.25 million athletes in over 160 countries train and compete in 30 Olympic-style summer and winter sports at local, national and international events. Through its sports programs, Special Olympics strives to provide long-term benefits to individuals' health, self-esteem and social integration.
Special Olympics and Paralympics are two separate organizations recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Special Olympics provides sports opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities of all ability levels. Paralympics provides opportunities for elite-level athletes with disabilities.
For more information, contact: Martha Jo Braycich, Communications Director, e-mail: mjbraycichSOEE@compuserve.com
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