UEFA-backed tournament urges European learning

Some 250 youngsters representing 14 clubs from 13 European countries took part in the Mini-EURO 2010 in the twin venues of Frantiskovy Lazne, Czech Republic, and Rehau, Germany.

The two-day tournament was staged by the Deutsch-Tschechische Fussballschule, a project encouraging European learning through football.

The seventh edition of the Mini-EURO was played under the motto 'Against Racism and Violence', and featured, among others, Manchester United FC, FC Internazionale Milano, AFC Ajax, FC Bayern München, FK Crvena Zvezda, FC Porto, HJK Helsinki, AC Sparta Praha and FC Lokomotiv Moskva.

Ajax emerged victorious in a tense penalty shoot-out against NK Dinamo Zagreb. Bayern and Internazionale finished third. As well as the joy of playing football, members of the participating teams were given an excellent opportunity to learn about different cultures, with the tournament taking place either side of the Czech-German border.

UEFA has campaigned actively for tolerance in football, with its Respect initiative reaching all four corners of Europe and receiving positive feedback from fans, players, clubs and national associations. In addition, the European body's partnership with the Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) network, and the FARE Action Week each autumn, has made the continent's premier club competition, the UEFA Champions League, a high-profile platform for the pan-European anti-racism drive.

It is felt to be extremely important that children and young people champion respect and tolerance. Tournaments such as the Mini-EURO 2010 promote these values and enable people from different nations to mix and form friendships. Learning about Europe through football has become an example of best practice that, encouragingly, more and more countries are taking up.