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Providing year round sports training and athletic competition to more than
2.8 million people with intellectual disabilities in more than 180 countries
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Special Olympics Africa > News > FIFA
For immediate release
No embargo
15 September 2008
Special Olympics South Africa host FIFA Football for Hope Soccer Week
(Johannesburg, South Africa) – From September 18th – 21st,
over 300 Special Olympics South Africa athletes will demonstrate their
skill in four days of soccer action as they participate in the Special
Olympics FIFA Football for Hope Soccer Week.
The Football for Hope project was launched in May 2007 when FIFA and
Special Olympics South Africa announced their plans to see a greater
reach of high quality football training and competition opportunities
for individuals with an intellectual disability in South Africa. This
resulted in the training and accreditation of Special Olympics coaches
by the South African Football Association and the staging of the first
FIFA Football for Hope Tournament for 200 athletes late in 2007.
“The 2008 FIFA Football Week has attracted an unprecedented 330
Special Olympics athletes of all ability levels who will compete in
this 4 day event. We are especially pleased to announce that leading
investment bank ABSA Capital will be teaming up with Special Olympics
South Africa on the final day of the tournament, providing both
financial support and the opportunity for their staff to play alongside
our athletes in Special Olympics Unified Football,” commented
Special Olympics South Africa Acting CEO Camille Duncan.
The Special Olympics Unified Sport program places equal numbers of
individuals with and without intellectual disabilities on the same
sports team and thus uses sports as a powerful tool for changing
attitudes and facilitating that Special Olympics athletes become
integrated and valued members of our society. Similarly, the
objective of the “Football for Hope” project as highlighted
by FIFA is to bring together, support, advise and strengthen
sustainable social and human developmental programs in the areas of
peace promotion, children’s rights & education, health
promotion, anti-discrimination, social integration, and the environment.
Approximately 130 low ability Special Olympics athletes from all
regions of Gauteng province will take part in an Individual Skills
Contest starting at 9am on September 18th, where athletes will dribble,
kick and shoot their way on to the medals podium. Ladies and
men’s 5-a-side competitions will follow on the 19th and 20th
September respectively before ABSA Capital staff and students from St
Benedicts College will join the Special Olympics athletes for a day of
5-a-side Special Olympics Unified Football on September 21st. The
Football Week will be hosted by the University of Johannesburg who have
not only committed their facilities free of charge, but are involving
many of their top players as officials during the tournament.
There are more than one million individuals with intellectual
disabilities in South Africa, many of whom live in social isolation,
with little support or opportunities to participate in society.
Special Olympics offers year round sports training and competition
opportunities for both children and adults with an intellectual
disability, giving them an opportunity to develop physical fitness,
demonstrate courage, experience joy and become integrated and valued
members of our society.
For further information, contact Camille Duncan at CDuncan@specialolympics.org or Special Olympics South Africa at 011 783 8533
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| Special Olympics South Africa host FIFA Football for Hope Soccer Week |
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(Johannesburg, South Africa) - from September 18-21, over 300 Special
Olympics South Africa athletes will demonstrate their skills in four
days of soocer action as they participate in the Special Olympics FIFA
Football for Hope Soccer Week. The
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More info...
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