From 29th May to 06th June, the city of Lille and Lens were the focal points of “Euro Schools Football” Championship 2016 organised in cooperation with UNSS (French School Sport Union), ISF (International School Sport Federation), UEFA Foundation for Children and the FFF (French Football Federation).
All along the week, 1000 young people coming from 24 European countries and 2 guest countries outside Europe (Brasil and India) had the opportunity to participate in a wonderful football tournament and lived an incredible multicultural experience.
The visit and support of the Minister of Education of France – Mrs Najat Vallaud Belkacem and Mr Patrick Kanner – Minister of Youth and Sport of France stated that this event is a “must go”! it was the first time that France hosted a school sport event of that dimension.
Mr Antonio Silva Mendes, Director for Youth and Sport in the Directorate General Education and Culture of the European Commission came to Euro Schools Football Championship to acknowledge in front of a young audience, the work of the school sport network to promote gender equality and women in sports in Europe during the conference organised in collaboration with the Think Tank “Sport and Citizenship”.
As Laurent Petrynka – ISF President and UNSS Director said: “The youth wants to be inspired by Euro 2016 but they are also here to inspire the adults”.
Indeed, the young participants gave the best of themselves all along the week in a friendly and fair play atmosphere to inspire adults and the famous international football players who came to cheer them up and to answer to their questions.
The specificity of the school sport network is to organise events for the youth in cooperation with the youth; 100 volunteers helped to organise the event and 20 young reporters received the best training from a sport journalist, since they were in charge of capturing pictures and videos, and of interviewing in French and English of the different stakeholders of the championship. It was an incredible lifetime and professional experience, which will contribute to their future professional career.
The #EuroFootJeunes was supported by severals great football ambassadors and celebrities like Djibril Cissé, Rio Mavuba, Laura Georges, Raphael Varane, William Gallas, Candice Prevost, Vincent Parisi, Pascal Gentil, Olivier Dacourt, Muriel Hurtis, Fred Jossinet, Kheira Hamraoui, the singers Alizee, Lord Kossity and Sarahba. They put a smile on their faces during the championship. Besides, the celebrities contributed to good causes in a charity gala dinner for the Foundation of Rio Mavuba: Les Orphelins de Makala and School Sport Foundation. Additionally, the school sport foundation donated football material to 8 Guyanese children and their teachers who represented their school coming from a remoted area from French Guyana, based on a contest they won.
Last but not least:
Girls results: 1) Brasil 2) Germany 3) Turkey 4) Martinique
Boys results: 1) Turkey 2) Bulgaria 3) France 4) Croatia
All results on the website: Euro Schools Football Championship
More information on:
– the Facebook Page: ISF WSC Football
– the Twitter : @ISFsports