The Open Fun Football School (OFFS) in Tblisi, Georgia, run by streetfootballworld network member Cross Cultures Project Association (CCPA), was proud to receive a visit from UEFA President Michel Platini.

The CCPA’s Georgian office gave Mr Platini an introduction to the history, ideas and driving principles of the OFFS concept, which uses football to foster friendship and social cohesion among children of different ethnic and social backgrounds.

The school, taking place this summer, was attended by over 200 children from Armenia, Azerbaidjan and Georgia. They met the UEFA president when he dropped in on the Tblisi stadium at which the OFFS is taking place. As well as learning about the theoretical side of CCPA, Mr. Platini experienced the practical side by taking part in the games and talking to participating coaches and children.

Mr Platini’s visit to the OFFS school in Tblisi was part of his two day trip to the South Caucasus country, where he met the Georgian Football Federation and leading Georgian politicians. As well as being a streetfootballworld network member, CCPA is also a core UEFA social responsibility portfolio member.

CCPA's significant scope
The UEFA President’s visit came as the OFFS figures for 2009 were released. The impressive statistics show the huge reach of the Open Fun Football Schools.

In 2009, the CCPA ran 160 Open Fun Football Schools and 483 follow-up events, reaching over 73,000 children in the Balkans, the Middle East, Moldova and the Caucus region. They also helped to educate nearly 3,000 instructors, leaders and coaches through three-to-five-day seminars, and reached 29,000 parents through workshops on how they can locally support the OFFS activities.

For a more detailed look at the OFFS figures, click here.


Written by Gareth Davies