Coleman supports the campaign to support special Olympics athletes
Special Olympics Olympics Europe Eurasia has launched #FidssofFootball, a campaign to encourage footballers with intellectual disabilities to stay active and stay engaged against the development of the Covid-19 ban.
As a result of the unprecedented engagement of athletes across Europe, nearly 1,000 participants from more than 40 nations have already signed up and are training – including the special Olympics G.B.
Today is the first day of Special Olympics European Football Week Week 2020 # EFW2020.
Now in its 20th year, European Football Week is usually celebrated in May. Each year, 40,000 participants in 50 countries participate in hundreds of programs. However, like everything else this year, European Football Week 2020 is far from normal.
This year, it has gone online in Europe, with its coaches and supporters without intellectual disabilities and in the form of a leading new digital hub for footballers, #fessofFootball.
The campaign has caught the attention of Everton and Ireland captain Seamus Coleman who have thrown their weight behind him.
He said:
“Facial Football .L offers footballers in Europe, with and without an intellectual disability, the opportunity to train and compete in the sport of their choice, with or without leaving their home or garden.
“Everyone is welcome and everyone is involved. Even if we are not physically together on the pitch or in the stadium, this is an excellent example of the inherent power of the game.”
The sense of isolation felt by many since the countries went into lockdown earlier this year is nothing new for people with intellectual disabilities.
Marginization and exclusion are common experiences with which many people live on a daily basis. However, the Covid-19 and its accompanying restrictions exacerbated these sentiments and brought worrying new challenges for special Olympics athletes – many already living in sensitive situations.
The new #FSF of football campaign is tackling these challenges and using digital technology to train athletes, keep them competing and, most importantly, empower them despite being connected to fellow players, coaches and supporters, regardless of what restrictions they have.
- Anyone can sign up, generate a unique football card and support by Click here
Total coffee specialist. Hardcore reader. Incurable music scholar. Web guru. Freelance troublemaker. Problem solver. Travel trailblazer.
