Azerbaijan
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The sixth annual Special Olympics European Football Week, was held 24 April-3 May, 2006. The goal is to involve the participation of 50,000 Special Olympics players across the Europe/Eurasia region. [Photo by Shutterstock] |
National tournament in Baku draws support from football association and others
Special Olympics Azerbaijan organized a national tournament from 24-27 April 2006 at the Tofig Bahramov Stadium complex in Baku. One hundred and fifty Special Olympics players from Baku, Sumgayit, Sheki and Kusari-Kuba took part. The Azerbaijan National Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Youth and Sport, the Ministry of Social Protection, the Azerbaijan Football Association and stadium management supported the tournament. The tournament had excellent media coverage with articles in the “Azerbaijan" and "Olympiya Dunyasi" newspapers and reports on AzerTaj, ANS independent television and national television. Prior to the national tournament, four regional tournaments were held in Lenkaran, Sumgayit, Kuba-Kusar and Sheki.
Belgium
Annual Happy Football Day continues to be a big hit with players
Special Olympics Belgium organized its sixth “Happy Football Day” on 26 April 2006 in Hasselt. Organizers of the annual event welcomed 314 Special Olympics players (26 regular and 7 Unified Sports® teams). This year participants played in a 7-a-side tournament for the first time and adapted well to the larger pitch. Team captain Jacques Van Hees, who plays for local club Druivenstreek, said, “We have more space now and that helps us pass the ball better. Our game is improving!” His teammate, Philippe Aneca, said, “We have to run farther but that is what I like. A bigger pitch makes for tougher duels.”
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The visit of René Vandereycken (center, in suit), head coach of the national team, delighted Special Olympics Belgium players. [Photo courtesy Special Olympics Belgium] |
Even though there were a limited number of female teams who had to compete against male teams, trainer Jempi Couwet was very satisfied. “Our players are managing remarkably well against the male players.” Micheline Van Hees, the first woman to play Special Olympics football in Belgium and now a coach assistant, was clearly enjoying her new role. “The coach delegates the stretching and warm-up exercises to me. Sometimes I need to be strict with the team, but as long as I keep smiling, my fellow players have no problem with the routine.”
The day’s highlight was a visit from René Vandereycken, new head coach of the national team. “I found the warm contact with the Special Olympics players gratifying. When I worked as a coach in the Netherlands I already enjoyed some training sessions for footballers with an intellectual disability. I am looking forward to doing the same in Belgium,” he said.
Georgia
Special Olympics Georgia and Quality Schools International team up for day of football
Special Olympics Georgia organized a football tournament on 29 April 2006 in Tbilisi. Three teams from local special schools and one team from Quality Schools International (QSI) participated in the tournament that was held at the mini-stadium of the Sport Academy. Almost 100 people attended the event, including many family members and friends. Guests included the chairmen of Sport and Culture and Education and representatives from the Georgian Football Federation.
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Students from QSI school (standing, in orange) and local Special Olympics players show shared team spirit. [Photos by Youry Mechitov] |
Among the 30 volunteers were students from the Sports Academy, Special Olympics athletes, parents and the four athletes who will be competing (in athletics) in the Special Olympics European Youth Games in Rome.
All teams received footballs, medals, Special Olympics pins and sport bracelets as gifts.
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McDonald's donated 100 Happy Meals to the tournament. |
Tournament supporters included longtime supporter GG&MW (a Georgian mineral water company), McDonald's (which provided 100 “Happy Meals”), the Sport Academy and the football federation, which provided the officials and balls. Reports on the tournament were carried on IMEDI TV and the first national channel.
One team from a special school that couldn't make it to the tournament will be invited to play at the QSI school on 5 May. 
Above, the producer of “Borjomi” mineral water, GG&MW, has been a long-time supporter of Special Olympics Georgia footballers.
Iceland
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Birkir Kristinsson (left), former national goalkeeper and currently working for Glitnir, the main sponsor, presented a medal to Special Olympics footballer Kristjan Karlsson. [Photo courtesy Special Olympics Iceland] |
Former national goalkeeper presents medals; first Fit Feet clinic held
In late March, approximately 50 Special Olympics Iceland footballers from all over the country participated in a tournament in Reykjavik. The event was organized in cooperation with The Football Association of Iceland; Glitnir Bank was the main sponsor. Special Olympics footballers were thrilled to receive medals from former national goalkeeper Birkir Kristinsson.
A Healthy Athletes® Fit Feet clinic was held in conjunction with the event. Six experts from the Icelandic Federation of Podiatry examined 20 athletes, many who will be competing later this year in the Special Olympics European Youth Games in Rome.
Luxembourg
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Professional player Manuel Cardoni warming up in a Special Olympics Luxembourg T-shirt. [Photos courtesy Special Olympics Luxembourg] |
Professional player Cardoni announced as football ambassador
Professional player Manuel Cardoni became the first Football Ambassador for Special Olympics Luxembourg. The announcement was made during a press conference on 20 April 2006. Cardoni, who played for Bayer Leverkusen and was captain of the national team, was delighted with his appointment. “It is an honor to help Special Olympics footballers and to show them that through sports a person’s life can be changed,” he said.
Special Olympics Luxembourg football players had training sessions with the U21 national team and First League Jeunesse Esch, which Cardoni plays for. During the weekend of 29-30 April, billed as a “Solidarity” weekend, all First League teams and referees warmed up during matches wearing Special Olympics T-shirts, while referees donated money to Special Olympics Luxembourg. On 29 April, a Unified Sports tournament was held with teams from Luxembourg, Germany, Belgium and France.
Above, Special Olympics Luxembourg athletes and Jeunesse Esch players pause for a group photo after a training session.
Two television reports, including one on primetime news, and a 30-minute radio interview were part of the media coverage.
Russia
12-year-olds play Special Olympics football for the first time
Twelve boys who attend a special school in southeast Russia played Special Olympics football for the first time. The players, all about 12 years old, live in Ulyanovska, a city of 700,000 inhabitants best known as the birthplace of Lenin. Special Olympics was introduced to the special school about two years ago by teacher Elena Kalenik, who taught her pupils badminton. This year, Oleg Tashnichenko, a former professional football player and currently physical education teacher at a regular school, was invited to lead the first match at the special school. It was Tashnichenko’s first meeting with children with special needs. “I have been working with children for nine years and I never expected such enthusiasm as I saw here today,” said Tashnichenko, who coaches a local women’s team. “I saw how they played and how much they love football. I definitely see potential players,” he said. “I promise to come back to the school and coach these boys again.” 
Above, Russia students play football for the first time while classmates watch. [Photo by Krzysztof Krukowski, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia]
Tournament welcomes female teams
This year, at the main Football Week tournament in Russia that is held annually in St. Petersburg, female teams competed for the first time. The 112 female players, representing five regions, joined 192 male players at the tournament that was held 24-29 April 2006. During Opening Ceremonies, which received excellent media coverage, 3,000 guests watched the players march into the stadium. The Special Olympics Program in St. Petersburg celebrated its 15th anniversary this year; it is one of the oldest regional programs in Russia. It has a very strong sports program in football, floor hockey and figure skating. Many of the Special Olympics coaches have had illustrious sports careers, including competing in the Olympics.
Special Olympics coach Vladimir Borishim, 49, was one of the 76 coaches at the St. Petersburg tournament. He got involved in Special Olympics four years ago when it was introduced at the orphanage where he works in Alapayersk, a small city in the Urals. Today, his athletes compete in athletics, cross country skiing, football, table tennis and volleyball. “Special Olympics is a well-organized movement. We have a comprehensive sports calendar, financial backing and attractive events for our athletes,” Borishim said. “If you want to be a good coach, you should love your athletes, understand them and have a lot of patience. For me, going to work is like a holiday,” he said.
One of the best women players during the tournament was Dasha Aliyeva from Alapayersk. The 13-year-old got involved in Special Olympics four years ago, playing table tennis. Two years ago she started to play football with the boys. Now she plays on an all-female team but prefers to play with the boys. Regardless of the team, she said enthusiastically, “Football is for me and I want a career as a player!” Victor Lebiediev, the main tournament referee, said, “Dasha is the best female player I have ever seen in my career.”
Slovakia
Teens dream about competing at the Youth Games in Rome
Special Olympics Slovakia organized 14 local school Unified Sports tournaments throughout the country between 24 April and 3 May 2006. The two Unified teams selected to represent Slovakia at the Special Olympics European Youth Games football tournament in Rome, Italy, participated in two of the tournaments. The team from Kremnica was part of a local tournament with four teams and the team from Puchov traveled to a tournament in Trencin where they competed against two local teams.
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Participants in one of Slovakia 14 Unified Sports tournaments (left to right): Tomas Murgas, 16, partner; Milan Palencar, 16, athlete; Matus Bores, 16, partner; Back row, left-right, coaches Ivan Florovic and Milos Bires. [Photos by Sabine Brecklinghaus, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia] |
Juraj Majtan, 16, partner on the Unified team from Puchov, who is attending the regular school, Gymnazium Puchov, said, “I am very excited to have been selected to go to Rome. I hope we will do well in the tournament.” His teammate, Tomas Krkoska, 16, athlete and student at Special School Puchov, said, “I hope to make new friends from other countries when we are in Rome.” Their coach, Zdena Pacarovska, 46, a physical education teacher at the special school, added, “I am sure that the players dream about their trip to Rome every night.” The teenagers have been playing on the Unified football team for almost a year. “We have a great time together,” said Majtan.
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TheUnified Sports team from Puchov poses for a team photograph. |
Tomas Murgas, 16, partner, and Milan Palencar, 16, athlete, are part of the Unified team from Kremnica. Murgas attends regular school Pavla Krizku Kremnica; Palencar attends Special School Kremnica Sama Chalupku. “What I like most about this team is that we are together — the boys from the regular school and we from the special school. We got to know each other and we became real friends. And we can play football together, which is what all of us like to do most,” said Palencar.
Teammate Murgas added, “We are very excited about going to Rome. It is a great opportunity for all of us. Many of us do not have the chance to leave the country so often. Besides playing football, we certainly will enjoy visiting Rome.” Their coach Ivan Florovic, 46, a physical education teacher at the special school, said, “It is a big deal for this team to go to Rome. We gave the news to the players step by step since they were so overwhelmed by the fact that they had been chosen. First some of them were even worried about traveling and playing against teams from other countries. Now everybody is happy to go.” 
Above, students from both the special and regular schools at the Trencin Unified Sports tournament enjoy a beautiful spring day watching matches and cheering for their teams.
Spain
Special Olympics players participate in tournaments in Madrid
On 24 April 2006 at the Ciudad del Futbol (City of Football) Las Rozas near Madrid, 100 Unified Sports players took part in seven matches while 50 players participated in motor activities training program (MATP) activities.
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Former Real Madrid players Rafael Martin Vazquez (center), who is also a football ambassador, and Jose Miguel Martin (right), with a Special Olympics Spain footballer. [Photo courtesy Special Olympics Spain] |
One hundred and fifty male and female Special Olympics players, aged 8-16 and representing special schools in Madrid, competed in a tournament at the same location the next day. Seventy-five volunteers from Philips participated in events. Football ambassador Rafael Martin Vazquez, a former Real Madrid player who has supported Special Olympics Spain since 2003, attended events.
On 27 April, 30 Special Olympics footballers had the chance to visit Real Madrid stadium and facilities. From 4-7 May, Special Olympics Spain will organize its eighth national futsal tournament in Valladolid. Three hundred Special Olympics players from 18 regions will participate.
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