Home Add to Favorite Contact Submit  
           29 March, 2024


    
Category:  Press » Kids & Teens

 

Special Olympics Announces Launch of New Global Football Initiative

Popularity:
         Views: 1898
2007-10-01 10:40:20     
Special Olympics International

Special Olympics today announced the launch of a new global initiative to expand football opportunities for players with intellectual disabilities. This was presented at a press conference prior to the final of the FIFA Women's World Cup China 2007 in Shanghai.

Special Olympics is the world's largest sports programme for people with intellectual disabilities, providing year-round training and competition for more than 2.5 million athletes in 165 countries. Football is one of the major sports in Special Olympics, with more than 300,000 players participating world wide.

Special Olympics Global Football (SOGF) aims to use the visibility and reach of the world's most popular sport to generate greater public awareness, acceptance and respect for people with intellectual disabilities, and to raise the necessary funds to significantly expand Special Olympics football participation on every continent.

Several well-known football stars have already pledged their commitment to supporting Special Olympics Global Football, including Kaka, David James, Carlos Parreira, Kristine Lilly, Doris Fitschen and Teofilo Cubillas. The initiative is being co-chaired by Angelo Moratti, Special Olympics International Board member and nephew of Inter-Milan owner, Massimo Moratti, along with Argentinian football legend Osvaldo (Ossie) Ardiles.

"Through my involvement with local Special Olympics football in London, I have seen first hand the ability and love of the game shown by football players with intellectual disabilities. Through football, we can certainly help these individuals achieve greater things, on and off the field; in turn, they can inspire all of us with their unstoppable spirit," said Ossie Ardiles, Co-Chair, Special Olympics Global Football Advisory Committee.

FIFA, through the Football For Hope Movement, which is the key element of the strategic alliance with streetfootballworld, is actively supporting Special Olympics in 10 countries in Africa. Through this partnership, more than 3,000 young players with intellectual disabilities are involved in football training and competition, and are given free health screenings.

"Football is a common and universal language which unites people from all walks of life without discrimination of any kind. The aim of FIFA's Football for Hope movement is to create a better future through the game of football. Within this programme, FIFA is determined to give its support to Special Olympics, whose goal is truly remarkable. I would like to encourage all football fans and others to attend the Special Olympics Summer Games Shanghai 2007. For the Game. For the World.," stated FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter.

"We believe the global football community can unite our athletes and families with fans and youth creating new and exciting opportunities for acceptance and inclusion," said Timothy Shriver, Chairman and CEO of Special Olympics. "We also believe the spirit, determination and fair play of our athletes can inspire footballers and their fans throughout the world."

UEFA and CONMEBOL are also active partners in their respective regions. Special Olympics is currently seeking corporate sponsorship for this global initiative.

The official launch of Special Olympics Global Football will be at the Sheraton Denang Ballroom, Shanghai, from 12.00h to 14.00h on Thursday, 4 October.

Note: Special Olympics and Paralympics are two separate world sport organisations for people with disabilities, both recognised by the IOC. The Paralympics promote elite sports opportunities for people with disabilities, while Special Olympics promotes opportunities at all levels for people with intellectual disabilities.

Additional information about the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games and competition results are available on the Special Olympics website at http://www.specialolympics.org .

Special Olympics is an international non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society through sports training and competition. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and competition to 2.5 million adults and children with intellectual disabilities across 165 countries. The Special Olympics Movement offers one of the world's greatest platforms for acceptance and inclusion for all people--regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or cultural differences. Corporate sponsors of Special Olympics include: adidas, Bank of America, The Coca-Cola Company, DHL, Mattel, Inc. and Mattel Children's Foundation, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Find out how you can become involved at http://www.specialolympics.org .

For more information, please contact:
FIFA Media Department
Tel: +41-43/222-7272
Fax: +41-43/222-7373

Specialized in: Special Olympics
URL: http://www.specialolympics.org
Print press release      Bookmark this page
Related Press releases 
Want a nice Christmas gift for your child Christmasgiftforkids com can help (Popularity: ): Vancouver, Canada - Christmasgiftforkids.com is a boon for all those parents who are looking out for a wonderful Christmas gift for their child. Gift-giving is an important part of Christmas celebrations that is the main reason kids eagerly wait for this festival. In addition to providing huge information about Christmas gifts;Christmasgiftforkids.com also connects you to amazon.com where you can buy these gifts. No wonder this website is so recommended. Christmasgiftforkids.com ...
Wal-Mart Continues Support of Parents Step Ahead with $25,000 Grant (Popularity: ): The Wal-Mart Foundation has awarded a $25,000 grant to the nonprofit community organization Parents Step Ahead for parenting-education programs during the 2010-2011 school year.A major supporter of Parents Step Ahead since it was established in 2006, Wal-Mart will present the grant from its State Giving Program at the organization's 5th Annual "Parent of the Year" Gala on Dec. 3, 2010, in Dallas, Texas."Wal-Mart strives to be a part of the ...
Make Spanish A Part Of Your Child’s Day With ¡Sorpresa! Móvil Now Playing On Verizon Wireless V CAST (Popularity: ): Fun, unique and educational are just some of the ways to describe ¡Sorpresa!, a cutting edge channel now showing on Verizon Wireless V CAST that features Spanish language content specifically for children. From game shows to cartoons ¡Sorpresa! (which means surprise) features shows that aim to both educate children and provide young Hispanics ages 2 to 12 with culturally relevant programming. One to five minute clips of six exciting ¡Sorpresa! ...
YWCA Greater Los Angeles Honors Venus Williams with Phenomenal Woman of the Year Award (Popularity: ): The YWCA Greater Los Angeles (YWCA GLA) will honor multiple grand slam tennis champion and entrepreneur Venus Williams at its upcoming Phenomenal Woman Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, July 13, 2010 from 11:30am - 2pm. The event will be held in downtown Los Angeles at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel at 500 S. Grand Avenue and is themed "Saluting Women who Change the Game".The Phenomenal Woman Awards fundraiser draws Southern California's top ...
World's Youngest Editor-in-Chief 11 Year old Ajha Nicole Dortch of Atlanta Travels to Tampa With her A.N.D. Magazine Collecting Shoes Benefiting Haiti Relief (Popularity: ): Ajha Nicole Dortch is the 11 year old Editor-in-Chief of A.N.D. Magazine. Launching what could be the first ever Pre-teen magazine by Pre-teens and for Pre-teens.Since 2009 with her inaugural issue featuring independent women, then 10 year old Ajha Nicole Dortch has combined her love of writing with her love of fashion. "I've put my all into this magazine," says Ajha. "So why not call it by my name?" The ...


Related Business 
Texas Special Olympics (Popularity: ): Home page of the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Special Olympics team.
Special Olympics Australia (Popularity: ): This is the official website for Special Olympics in Australia. Information includes; history, calendar of events, athlete profiles and sponsors.
Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (Popularity: ): A list of objectives, documents and resources and registration for the guideline launch.
Ballot Initiative Strategy Center (Popularity: ): Searchable library on ballot initiative information for all states. Advocacy group that promotes strategic discussions among progressive organizations to counter right-wing ballot measures and launch progressive initiative campaigns.
London Olympics, Informations and Updates (Popularity: ): London Olympics 2012 Winners and Results. British Airlines, lead by British Airways together with bmi, easyJet and Virgin Atlantic, are finding ways to cope with the delays and disruptions that may occur at London’s airports because of London Olympics.
Launch Tech UK (Popularity: ): Launch Tech UK are official suppliers of Launch products from automotive diagnostic tools to aftermarket equipment. Launch pride themselves on developing innovative aftermarket tools, which appeal to the independent garages and your general DIY enthusiast. All equipment is constantly updated and made accessible online, so Launch makes sure you have the latest software available.
Global Ballast Water Programme (Popularity: ): An initiative under the International Waters portfolio of the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
Knouz Restaurant (Popularity: ): London-December 12th, 2011- Knouz Restaurant, the newly opened Moroccan Deli- Lounge- Restaurant announces the launch of a fully functional website to attract new customers and secure its existing clientele. Situated in Fulham Broadway, one of London's trendiest area, Knouz Restaurant offers an authentic Moroccan cuisine in an elegantly decorated atmosphere with a Mediterranean touch. The website project included: A complete Design with enhanced functionality which enables Knouz restaurant customers to ...
Global Polio Eradication Initiative (Popularity: ): WHO official site on the initiative, with background information and data on current progress to completely eradication polio.
Hamro Football’s (Popularity: ): HamroFootball.com is one of world’s fastest growing Football platforms with significant presence in growing markets like Asia. Hamro Football’s unique platform allows budding journalists and football fans to present their opinions and analysis on the latest from the world of football, to a global audience spanning over 30 countries. We’ve been operational for the past 5 months and have been steadily increasing our base of readers from Asia and from ...