UEFA Grassroots Day to be celebrated this week

PanARMENIAN.Net - This week the fourth UEFA Grassroots Day will celebrate the importance of grassroots football with activities planned throughout UEFA's member association countries as well as at the UEFA Champions Festival in London, UEFA official website reported.

An annual celebration, UEFA Grassroots Day was created by European football's governing body to emphasize its commitment to the foundations of the game, while, in the week of the UEFA Champions League final, relaying the important message that top-level professional football cannot flourish without a healthy grassroots.

"Grassroots Day has taken place on the Wednesday of UEFA Champions League final week since 2010," explained UEFA chief technical officer Ioan Lupescu. "All our member associations are asked to promote the grassroots game, underlining the importance of the provision of football for everyone, not just the elite."

The center point of the activities will be The International Quarter, close to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, London, where the UEFA Champions Festival will be staged from May 23–26. There, youngsters will have the chance to participate in a variety of skills clinics and training sessions with professional coaches.

On Thursday, May 23 to coincide with women's football day at the festival, girls' teams will get the opportunity to play with England women's internationals and UEFA ambassadors, while futsal day on Friday includes a futsal grassroots tournament for Under-12 and U16 boys and girls as well as coaching sessions with leading futsal player Ricardinho.