From May 18th until 30th, FairPlay-VIDC and the Balkan Alpe Adria Project (BAAP) – in cooperation with the FAC team for Vienna and the SC Süssenbrunn – organised an intercultural youth football tournament. Under the slogan "Vienna meets Balkan" teams from the U10 and U12 age groups from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, FYR of Macedonia, Montenegro, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria met in this sporting event. Not only the sport of football but also the strengthening of intercultural exchange and dialogue had priority.
Christian Oxonitsch (Vienna City Councillor for Education, Youth, Information and Sports) was pleased that the city hosted the event again:
„Vienna meets Balkan is more than ‘just‘ an international football tournament. It is about people from different cultural backgrounds meeting each other, having fun together and taking a united stand against nationalism, racism and intolerance. As City Councillor for Youth and Sports in Vienna, I am especially pleased that our city is hosting this event for the 11th time. Vienna stands for tolerance and togetherness, and it has always been an important centre at the heart of Europe, which, in my opinion, makes it a perfect venue for the tournament”.
In total, 49 teams with over 500 children and adolescents participated at the "Vienna meets Balkan" tournament. It took place on the football grounds of the FAC Team for Vienna in the 21st district of Vienna, the SC Süssenbrunn in the 23rd district and the FS Elektra in the 2nd district. The final day, in particular, attracted many viewers to the FAC ground.
Trainer seminar
Prior to this year's youth tournament, FairPlay-VIDC – in cooperation with the Croatian NGO M Status – invited the coaches of the clubs to a seminar at the hotel Sophienalpe. The aim of the seminar was to provide a basis for discussion as well as an exchange platform for the coaches.
Framework programme
A framework programme, which was organised by FairPlay-VIDC on all matchdays at the FAC ground, provided entertainment for the adolescents. Away from the tournament action, the children and adolescents could prove their football skills and play together in mixed teams in an inflatable FairPlay Streetkick-Court. The FairPlay team also offered a creative workshop in addition to the Streetkick, where the kids could let their creativity run free and produce banners about the main topic of the project, their club logo or suchlike. Another element of the framework programme was the microsoccer-facility, which FairPlay-VIDC introduced at the youth tournament for the first time this year.
Evening event
A special highlight was the joint celebration for players and trainers at the Vienna Ost*Club on May 19th 2013, which combined need-to-know with fun, dance and music. At the evening event, the children had the opportunity to learn the art of break dance and rap in workshops as well as to participate in a workshop on "FairPlay and role models in football".
Results
In the U10 age group, AS Novi Pazar (Serbia) won the first place and could thus defend its title and take the trophy back home. Second place was the AC Fav Picks from the 10th district of Vienna, the FAC Team for Vienna from the 21st district made third place. The Serbian club Vojvodina Novi Sad had to settle for the fourth place. In the U12 age group, the Viennese club FC First Vienna came out on top. The second place went to the club Pale Piksi (Bosnia and Herzegovina), the 3rd place was achieved by GR Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and the fourth by the club Buducnost Srpska Crnja (Serbia).
The borough mayor debuty Ilse Fitzbauer represented the district Floridsdorf at the trophy presentation at the FAC ground on the final day, May 20th at 4 o’clock pm.
Youth brochure
On the occasion of this year's youth tournament, FairPlay-VIDC published a youthbrochure in German and English as well as Bosnian / Croatian / Serbian, which was distributed to the adolescents during the tournament and the evening event at the Vienna Ost*Club. In addition to an interview with SK Rapid Vienna player Branko Boskovic and statements by adolescent players, the booklet provides information on current and planned projects.
Support
The "Vienna meets Balkan" youth tournament was sponsored by the City of Vienna and supported by the Austrian Football Association (ÖFB) and the Sports Ministry within the scope of the FairPlay-Service Point as well as the Viennese districts Leopoldstadt, Floridsdorf and Donaustadt. The youth tournament is part of the international "Football Unites the Alps, Adriatic and the Balkans"-project, which is carried out in cooperation with UEFA, the football associations of Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Montenegro and supported by the King Baudouin Foundation and FARE.
>>> Download the project report in English
>>> Check out this year's youth magazine