IVAN POTEKHIN, VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE RPC, PARALYMPIC CHAMPION, TOOK PART IN THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE SOCCER TOURNAMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES "STEEL WILL" IN SIRIUS (KRASNODAR TERRITORY)
Russian Football Union Cup "Steel Will" started in Sochi. The unique forum of adaptive soccer in Russia was organized with the support of FC Sochi.
From April 23 to 28, for the first time in its history, 70 teams, consisting of 550 players and 100 soccer players from 30 regions of Russia and Belarus, will play on eight soccer fields.
Teams play in six disciplines:
Deaf Football (men, women);
CP Football (men, boys);
Blind Football (men, women - categories B1, B2 and B3);
Amputee Football (men);
Football among II athletes (men, boys);
Football for electric wheelchairs.
The opening ceremony was also attended by Ivan Potekhin, vice-president of the Russian Paralympic Committee and Paralympic champion in CP Football, Dmitry Rubashko, FC Sochi director general, Evgeny Meites, director general of non-profit organization Sport Cluster, Dmitry Pirog, ex-WBO world champion, Yuri Borzakovsky, 2004 Olympic champion in athletics, Sergey Rozhkov, world champion, ex-captain of the Russian biathlon team, Sereda Sera, minister of physical culture and sport of the Krasnodar Territory.
Ivan Potekhin read out a welcome address from Pavel Rozhkov, President of the Russian Paralympic Committee:
"On behalf of the Russian Paralympic Committee and myself personally I greet the organizers, participants and guests of the first All-Russian Football Union Cup among persons with disabilities "Steel Will"!
Such event is of great importance in development of adaptive sport, helps to attract a large number of physically challenged people to regular exercises and sports, which is one of the priority areas of our state policy. It is important for us that all categories of population were actively involved in sports life, including persons with physical features, because sport contributes to their socialization, expands social circle, helps to reveal their capabilities in competitive struggle.
I am sure the festival will be held at a high organizational level and leave great impressions in the memory of the participants.
I wish all a bright sports festival, success and victories!
The tournament is held under the approved program "Football Social Responsibility of RFU ". It is based on 10 areas of social responsibility activities of UEFA. The activities are divided into two subprograms: "Football for people with disabilities" and "Sustainable Development".
Alexey Smertin, head of the RFU project office for sustainable development:
The Russian Football Union is doing systematic work as part of the RFU's sustainability program. Never before have so many disabled and disabled players gathered in one place. In addition to the soccer itself, we have prepared a lot of activities for the players aimed at social adaptation. This will help them learn something new and make new friends. This year our festival involves not only Russian but also Belarusian teams. I am sure that next year the tournament will have even more international representation.
After the opening ceremony a gala-match was held with the participation of the coaching staff and the management of FC Sochi. The first whistle, marking the start of the tournament, was blown by FIFA referee Kirill Levnikov.
From April 23 to 28, for the first time in its history, 70 teams, consisting of 550 players and 100 soccer players from 30 regions of Russia and Belarus, will play on eight soccer fields.
Teams play in six disciplines:
Deaf Football (men, women);
CP Football (men, boys);
Blind Football (men, women - categories B1, B2 and B3);
Amputee Football (men);
Football among II athletes (men, boys);
Football for electric wheelchairs.
The opening ceremony was also attended by Ivan Potekhin, vice-president of the Russian Paralympic Committee and Paralympic champion in CP Football, Dmitry Rubashko, FC Sochi director general, Evgeny Meites, director general of non-profit organization Sport Cluster, Dmitry Pirog, ex-WBO world champion, Yuri Borzakovsky, 2004 Olympic champion in athletics, Sergey Rozhkov, world champion, ex-captain of the Russian biathlon team, Sereda Sera, minister of physical culture and sport of the Krasnodar Territory.
Ivan Potekhin read out a welcome address from Pavel Rozhkov, President of the Russian Paralympic Committee:
"On behalf of the Russian Paralympic Committee and myself personally I greet the organizers, participants and guests of the first All-Russian Football Union Cup among persons with disabilities "Steel Will"!
Such event is of great importance in development of adaptive sport, helps to attract a large number of physically challenged people to regular exercises and sports, which is one of the priority areas of our state policy. It is important for us that all categories of population were actively involved in sports life, including persons with physical features, because sport contributes to their socialization, expands social circle, helps to reveal their capabilities in competitive struggle.
I am sure the festival will be held at a high organizational level and leave great impressions in the memory of the participants.
I wish all a bright sports festival, success and victories!
The tournament is held under the approved program "Football Social Responsibility of RFU ". It is based on 10 areas of social responsibility activities of UEFA. The activities are divided into two subprograms: "Football for people with disabilities" and "Sustainable Development".
Alexey Smertin, head of the RFU project office for sustainable development:
The Russian Football Union is doing systematic work as part of the RFU's sustainability program. Never before have so many disabled and disabled players gathered in one place. In addition to the soccer itself, we have prepared a lot of activities for the players aimed at social adaptation. This will help them learn something new and make new friends. This year our festival involves not only Russian but also Belarusian teams. I am sure that next year the tournament will have even more international representation.
After the opening ceremony a gala-match was held with the participation of the coaching staff and the management of FC Sochi. The first whistle, marking the start of the tournament, was blown by FIFA referee Kirill Levnikov.