UEFA aids Polish grassroots competition
Monday, July 7, 2003
Article summary
Funds from the UEFA KIOSK project are helping the Polish FA's Marek Wielgus youth tournament.
Article body
UEFA has donated €100,000 towards the staging of the largest children’s football tournament in Poland, the Marek Wielgus tournament. The funds have been provided under the UEFA KIOSK assistance project.
22,000 children
The eighth Marek Wielgus tournament, which is organised by the Polish Football Association, features more then 22,000 children born after 1 January 1992, who play in more than 2,200 teams.
September climax
The first qualifying round of the tournament is being played in 49 regions, and the 98 girls' and boys' teams who qualify meet again at summer camps organised by the Polish FA. The second qualifying round is played at the summer camps, and 16 teams go through to the final tournament, to be played in Iława on 6 and 7 September.
Stimulating children
“The main goal of the event is to stimulate children, and create the possibility for them to experience joy and competition with other children from throughout Poland," said Polish FA president Michal Listkiewicz. "More than 100,000 girls and boys have taken part in the previous seven editions of the Marek Wielgus tournament."
