Younited Belgium, an organization that uses football for social inclusion, and the Federation of the European Sporting Goods Industry (FESI) put EU officials, sporting goods brands and people in vulnerable situations on one pitch in Brussels on Sept. 29. The tournament ran during the European Week of Sport.
Barca Stadium hosted ten gender-mixed teams that paired Younited players with European Commission staff, brand members and secretariat staff from FESI. EU Sport Commissioner Glenn Micallef joined in, as did former Belgian international Mbo Mpenza. Club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise backed the event.
Younited runs regular teams with coaches and social workers for people who face or have faced homelessness, isolation, addiction, mental health problems or migration-related hurdles. After the matches, players and guests ate together.
FESI also used the day to close a gear drive among its members. Over 1,000 items came from Nike, adidas, PUMA, On, Decathlon, Fanatics and Atomic (ski brand). Younited teams in Belgium receive the equipment, and some will reach Ukraine. Micallef thanked FESI and its members for backing sport there.
FESI Secretary General Jérôme Pero said the day let policymakers see inclusion through sport directly, and that such encounters help bring realities from the ground into European discussions.
FESI has partnered with the European Week of Sport, the Commission’s annual #BeActive campaign, for over 15 years.
