Timeline: 7 June 2007 – 21 September 2008
Locations: Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland
EUROSCHOOLS 2008, the official school project for UEFA EURO 2008, was created to encourage awareness of cultural diversity and to support intercultural dialogue and respect. Over 20,000 students aged 12-15 from more than 200 schools in Austria, Liechtenstein and Switzerland spent a school year acting as ambassadors for 53 European countries and learning about the importance of fair play and acceptance.
Partners:
Coordinating partners: Fair Play vidc, Swiss Academy for Development
Supporting partners: UEFA, Austrian Bundeskanzleramt, 2008-Österreich am Ball, Öffentliche Hand UEFA EURO 2008™ of Switzerland, Austrian football association, Liechtenstein football association
More about the programme
Throughout the year, the young participants learned the histories, cultures and languages of their adopted countries and showcased their work in special project days. All participating schools also played their own European football championships under the flag of their EUROSCHOOLS country. The ‘Sport- und musisches Realgymnasium Salzburg’, representing Latvia, was crowned EUROSCHOOLS 2008 European Champion.
But that was just the beginning. The highlight of the year was the EUROSCHOOLS YOUTH CAMP 2008, where the schools from Austria, Liechtenstein and Switzerland were rewarded for the outstanding EUROSCHOOLS projects with the chance to come together in a football-filled week with youth delegations from the European nations they had represented for 10 months.
From 10–14 September, over 300 participants from 47 European nations lived, worked and played together, forming intercultural bonds and building their understanding of the importance of tolerance and respect. The first four days were spent in workshops, where students discussed their thoughts on European multiculturalism and learned the Fair Play Football method. During the last half of the week young players formed international teams and competed in a Fair Play Football tournament.
Related news articles
Mar 12, 2009: streetfootballworld presenting at UEFA Grassroots Workshop
Sep 29, 2008: EUROSCHOOLS 2008 closes with a huge youth camp
July 3, 2008: The final in Innsbruck is the highlight of the EUROSCHOOLS CUPS
June 20, 2008: Halftime at EUROSCHOOLS CUPS
June 7, 2007: Signal start for EUROSCHOOLS 2008
Additional information
Watch part two of the EUROSCHOOLS 2008 video documentary and part one and part two of the EURSCHOOLS YOUTH CAMP video.
