EUROSCHOOLS triumph for core values

Key values
"Football is a way of life which encourages social integration and inclusion.
Football is primarily a social activity; one of the best ways to integrate into a new region, city or school and build friendships," said Mr Erzik, speaking at the EUROSCHOOLS Youth Camp Fair Play football tournament in Vaduz. "Football is a team sport, where you will acquire values such as fair play and respect, how to win and lose."

Unique project
The EUROSCHOOLS YOUTH CAMP 2008 brought together 53 youth delegations, with youngsters from Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein meeting school delegations from the other 50 UEFA nations in a unique intercultural exchange, with participants living, working and playing football together. The youngsters have attended workshops to deal with topics such as peace, children's rights and fair play. The Fair Play football tournament was the highlight of the week.

'Wonderful vehicle'
"Football is open to everyone, irrespective of size, shape, colour or faith.
In grassroots football, participating is more important than winning: goals are the most beautiful thing in football - not trophies or money - and children understand this," Mr Erzik added. "In short, football offers educational values, health benefits, social opportunities, and sporting challenges. The game is a wonderful vehicle for personal and sporting development."

Street spirit
Mr Erzik raised the question of why generation after generation discovered and developed the passion for football. "The simplicity of the game is certainly part of the appeal," he said. "It can be played with any kind of ball and on any type of surface. When street football was commonplace, before traffic noise replaced children's laughter, backyards and streets were a wonderful learning environment for young players. The street football environment may have all but disappeared, but the spirit which underpinned it lives on with progressive mini-pitches."

Grassroots work
The EUROSCHOOLS project has been a key part of the grassroots work connected with this summer's UEFA EURO 2008™ tournament in Austria and Switzerland. The UEFA Executive Committee approved the project in late 2006, and pre-EURO football activities promoted intercultural relations and fair play as part of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008.

'Added value'
"I'm delighted to see that the EUROSCHOOLS 2008 project was built on these foundations, on the magic of football, and developed a challenging concept of added value," said Mr Erzik. "Thousands of children from Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein have enjoyed a year-long a mix of exciting and interesting studies, work and play as EUROSCHOOLS 2008 became an integral part of UEFA EURO 2008™.

'Closer together'
"Finally, the EUROSCHOOLS 2008 Youth Camp opened its gates a week ago to teenagers from all over Europe. Fifty-three nations became one team, participating in workshops on intercultural communication and playing fair play football. Applying the fair play football principles, [participants] learned to respect rules on and off the pitch, which is an excellent tool for cultural understanding and conflict prevention. Through this sporting, playful exchange Europe came closer together and the pitch was turned into a field of cultures.

Fair play
"Fair play is about more than just sticking to the rules of the game," Mr Erzik concluded. "Fair play is about the general attitude of the player or person in society. Fair play is equally valid outside sports and forms an important basis for mutual respect in all walks of life."