UEFA's commitment to community sport
Wednesday, November 22, 2023
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UEFA’s support for sports clubs and associations in its hometown was celebrated yesterday at the annual awards of the Foundation for the Development of Sport in Nyon.
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Established in 2000 and financed entirely by UEFA, the foundation provides funding to develop the town’s sporting facilities, give individual help to locally based elite athletes and encourage local people, especially youngsters, to engage in sporting activity. Since its inception, 129 grants have been awarded with a cumulative investment of over 1.6 million Swiss francs.
This year, ten local sports clubs and associations – representing rugby, table tennis, handball, aquatics, ice hockey, sailing, paddleboarding, and football – will benefit from financial awards totaling 59,200 Swiss francs. The money will be used to help the recipients achieve their immediate objectives, whether it is buying equipment, running camps or participating in tournaments.
Giving back
The foundation is managed by a board comprised of the mayor of Nyon, Daniel Rossellat – who chairs the board – the Nyon municipal official responsible for sport, Alexandre Démétriadès, and UEFA’s management and services director, Stéphane Igolen.
Stéphane Igolen, UEFA management and services director:
"UEFA is very proud to play an active role in Nyon’s sporting life.Through the foundation, we can help local people fulfil their passion, whether it be football or another sport, and engage in an active lifestyle. It is a fitting recognition of the assistance and support that the town has provided to UEFA since the organisation moved here in 1995."
Daniel Rossellat, Nyon mayor:
"We are very fortunate to have this foundation, which represents a real boost for our sporting community and reinforces the close links between the town of Nyon and UEFA. It reflects a shared commitment to the importance of sport and provides a legacy through the provision of opportunities for young people in particular."
Sport thriving in Nyon
With a population of 23,000 comprising over 130 nationalities, Nyon has a highly active sports culture, boasting over 70 clubs and associations with over 8,000 members.
The town has an outstanding sports infrastructure, including the Colovray sports centre located next to UEFA’s headquarters. In 2010, under an agreement with the Nyon municipal authorities, UEFA took over the management of the complex, which includes several grass and artificial turf pitches, an athletics track, fitness training facilities and a restaurant.
The 4,000-capacity main football stadium, home to FC Stade Nyonnais, is a regular stage for UEFA competitions, including the annual UEFA Youth League finals. UEFA also uses Colovray for various development and training activities such as the Centre of Refereeing Excellence (CORE) for promising young European referees and UEFA Pro licence coaching courses.
2023 awards in detail
• Nyon Rugby Club: 5,000 francs – support for the creation of a rugby school in Nyon
• Club de Tennis de Table de Nyon: 4,000 francs – contribution towards the purchase of tables
• Nyon Handball La Côte: 4,000 francs – contribution towards the purchase of training equipment
• Aquatics Club XXI La Côte: 2,200 francs – contribution towards the purchase of training equipment
• Cercle des Nageurs de Nyon: 10,000 francs – contribution towards the purchase of a bus
• Société Nautique de Nyon: 10,000 francs – contribution towards the purchase of a bus
• Sup & Surf Nyon: 6,000 francs – contribution towards the purchase of equipment
• FC Italia Nyon: 3,000 francs – contribution towards the purchase of equipment
• Hockey Club Nyon: 10,000 francs – contribution towards the organisation of camps linked to the club’s jubilee
• Zolan Zurkinden: 5,000 francs – contribution towards the young ice hockey player’s travel to the Pee-Wee international tournament