European Football Week 2019

Football is one of the most popular sports in Special Olympics Europe Eurasia with 139,800 players and 8,300 coaches registered. Supported by UEFA Respect, MetLife, national football federations and professional clubs, European Football Week (EFW) is a highlight in the Special Olympics calendar.

The focus of #EFW2019 is increasing women’s participation in the beautiful game across Europe Eurasia. This theme fits perfectly into Special Olympics’ overall aim of driving the agenda to increase women’s participation in all sports.

Throughout #EFW2019, football events involving women and girls with intellectual disabilities and highlighting their role in football will take place. Our #EFW2019 events will also focus on the importance of leading a healthy and active life, drawing on the Special Olympics Fit 5 guide and the European Commission’s #BeActive campaign. We will also be working in cooperation with international partners, European Football for Development Network (EFDN) and UEFA’s #WePlayStrong campaign.

Apart from #EFW2019, we will also be running a dedicated women’s football development project called #KeepUpWithTheGirls, supported by Erasmus+. The aim is to get women and girls with intellectual disabilities in 20 European Union countries involved in our football activities! Famous faces as well as football clubs and legends, sports academies and schools are standing by to support. Learn more about #KeepUpWithTheGirls.

Women's football—Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019

Photo by Claire Behan

Women's football—Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019

Photo by Claire Behan

Special Olympics Spain—Unified Tournament in Villareal.

Special Olympics Italy—Serie A players promoting Special Olympics.

Special Olympics Italy—Unified Football Team.

European Football Week 2018 activities organised by Special Olympics Hellas (Greece).

Photo by ΣΤΕΦΑΝΟΥ ΣΤΕΛΙΟΣ/INTIME SPORTS

Special Olympics Germany athletes join a training session with SGS Essen for European Football Week 2019.

Photo by Sarah Rauch

Legendary footballer Marcos Evangelista de Morais, known as “Cafu,” (right) with Special Olympics Europe Eurasia President and Managing Director, David Evangelista (left) and Sargent Shriver International Global Messenger, Emanuelle Dutra Fernandes de Souza.

Photo by Fernando Cambeiro

UEFA Respect has been our committed and enthusiastic partner for European Football Week for 19 years! Together with national football federations and clubs, we have organised more than 6,400 grassroots football activities. Each of these events has played its part in positively changing attitudes towards players with intellectual disabilities and expanding inclusive football opportunities for all across Europe.

Learn more about the partnership between Special Olympics and UEFA and about UEFA’s social responsibility activities. for information about UEFA resources please contact Miroslaw Krogulec or Aoife O'Grady.

This year, MetLife is once again generously supporting EFW! MetLife staff will volunteer at Young Athletes and Unified Football events in 15 countries as part of MetLife Community Service Week. As a result of Metlife’s generous support, the Young Athletes Programme and Unified football will continue to grow and develop in each participating country.

Photo by Piotr Surowiec

EFW began back in 2000 with 15 countries taking part. Although we have now grown to 50 countries, the objective remains the same: players of all the abilities getting the opportunity to take part and demonstrate their skills and talents at grassroots level.

Every year, clubs from European Leagues—from Italian Serie A and Serie B and Polish Ekstraklasa to German Bundesliga clubs—throw their support behind European Football Week. We can’t wait to see who gets involved this year!

For more information on Special Olympics EFW contact Miroslaw Krogulec, Director of Sports and Organizational Development, Special Olympics Europe Eurasia.