The Special Olympics Annual European Football Week is usually held on April/May of each year. During that week every year, 50 European National Special Olympics Programs organize a variety of football activities— from tournaments to clinics to exhibition games – for aprox 50,000 children and adults athletes with intellectual disabilities, male and female, to showcase their skills and determination on pitches throughout the Europe/Eurasia region.
On-going support from UEFA as well as 33 national football federations and over 50 football clubs ensure the success of the week.
The ninth European Football Week was held April 25 -May 3, 2009 with focus on bringing young people with and without intellectual disabilities together to build awareness and tolerance on and off the playing field mainly through Unified Football.
The tenth Football Week took place from April 30th to May 7th 2010 and called for more opportunities for female footballers with intellectual disabilities as a tool for breaking down barriers between people with and without intellectual disabilities
2011 Football Week starts on May 14 - 22
This year most activities will be connected and included to UEFA Grassroots Day, organized with National Football Federations and professional clubs. More than 400 local and national one-day Special Olympics tournaments for male, female and unified teams, and “Come and see Special Olympics” demonstration matches and clinics with professional players/ambassadors/Parliament are expected to be organized. Disability football training seminars and workshops for coaches will be integral part of programmes.
For more information on European Football Week contact Miroslav Krogulec, Senior Manager, Organisational Development and Sports at mkrogulec@specialolympics.org
Click here to download the official brochure for 2011 European Football Week and see 2011 promo video staring Serie A Inter Milan Captain Javier Zanetti.