Tous ensemble wins supporters award

The 2009 UEFA-backed European Football Supporters Award has been won by the French project Tous ensemble (All together) – the work of the Toulouse-based Association Média-Pitchounes body.

Encouraging exchange
Applications were submitted from throughout Europe, and the decision was taken by an international jury. Tous ensemble is an educational and citizenship project aimed at encouraging exchange between young supporters on French and European territory to counter violence, uncivilised behaviour and all forms of racism in sport.

Sporting values
Based on the concepts of fair play, respect, exchange and citizenship in football, the Association Média-Pitchounes was created in 2005 on the initiative of volunteers who joined forces for the realisation of social and cultural projects aimed at girls and boys from seven to 25 years of age. Their objective was to develop sporting values among the youngsters by making them aware of their behaviour both in the stadiums and in daily life. Click here for more details.

Communication programme
The project has already been established by the creation of extensive media support, press workshops, shows and conferences aimed at bringing together the professionals and supporters who represent millions of youngsters below 18 years of age across Europe. In order to ensure the visibility of these actions, the Association Média-Pitchounes put in place a powerful communication programme based on an anti-racism glossary, a tour of clubs around France, a hymn, choreography and a film clip.

Pink balloon
The icon of this action is a pink balloon, which symbolises the atmosphere of festivity and conviviality that is the basis of the vocation of the European Football Supporters Award. With the help of its young ambassadors, the Association Média-Pitchounes now intends to convey these strong messages on the role of supporters and fair-play throughout European football.

Reuniting and encouraging
The Association Média-Pitchounes does not limit its actions to young football supporters. It also wants to reunite and encourage all supporters in their respect for the true values of sport. For that reason, it has launched gateways into other disciplines such as basketball, volleyball and rugby.

Previous winners of the European Football Supporters Award
2005 La Peña Multicolor (Spain)
2006 The Amalgamation of Northern Ireland Supporters Clubs (Northern Ireland)
2007 Genoa Club for Children (Italy)
2008 National Association for Disabled Supporters (United Kingdom)
2009 Association Média-Pitchounes (France)

A special prize was awarded in 2006 to German supporters for their conduct at the FIFA World Cup. Click herefor more details of the European Supporters Award.