UEFA 'challenged' on key issues

Evolution
Coaches and administrators from 51 of UEFA's 52 member associations converged on the Norwegian capital along with representatives from FIFA and its continental bodies CAF, AFC, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL and OFC to sum up the evolution of the women's game. Several associations took to the floor to illustrate their structure and development, while conference participants were encouraged to contribute actively in discussion groups and use the event as a forum to voice their opinions.

Three key themes
Karen Espelund, who led the event as chairwoman of the UEFA Women's Football Committee and general secretary of the Norwegian Football Association, felt three key themes had emerged from the symposium: the importance of building from the bottom by dedicating time to the grassroots; the retention of former players into roles within the game and importance of recruiting more women at all levels; and the impact of new competitions such as the FIFA Women's Under-17 World Cup.

'Will and dedication'
UEFA vice-president Per Ravn Omdal said of the first issue in his closing remarks: "We have an opportunity to build something which is maybe the most important movement in each and every country - the football movement. When we get more women and girls entering the game it will allow this movement to become even stronger. I firmly believe that everybody can do it; it's not a question of money but will and dedication. Every association should strive to increase female participation by ten per cent a year from now."

Opportunities
Mary Harvey, a FIFA Women's World Cup-winning goalkeeper with the United States and now the world body's football development director, was the first to stress the significance of increasing opportunities for women within the game: "We are now at a juncture in women's football where we have players with 15 years of international experience at the end of their playing days. The onus is on each and every federation to create opportunities for these women as coaches, administrators, referees."

Production line
Harvey spoke passionately about the German production line which began 20 years ago and has resulted in the country enjoying unmatched success in the UEFA European Women's Championship, at youth levels and saw the team lift the World Cup in 2003. "There is a continual flow of talented female technicians into the German programme - illustrating what's possible if there's a will to make it happen. I challenge you to do the same."

New competition
With FIFA "committed to fostering the continued growth of women's football", Harvey announced that a biennial U17 World Cup will come into play in 2008, leaving UEFA to establish a European Championship (which will also serve as a qualifying event) at that level in 2007. With 45 of the 52 member associations already committed to the U19 edition in this continent, the general perception was that an U17 tournament was needed to stop talented players "dropping out" of the game in their mid-teens.

UEFA challenged
In summing up, Espelund said conference participants had "challenged UEFA on a number of issues". These included following FIFA's lead in appointing female football ambassadors to promote the game in Europe, integrating women's football on to all agendas and campaigns, and working on the promotional side of the game by "branding" the sport, something which has enabled the UEFA Champions League to enjoy unbridled success.