EURO 2024 on the horizon for the UEFA Foundation

The social projects set up by the UEFA Foundation for Children and its partners for EURO 2016 and EURO 2020 left a very encouraging legacy. This year, the foundation is working with partners and associations both at a local and European level to implement charitable activities connected to the Europe-wide platform of next summer’s UEFA EURO 2024 in Germany.

Here are just a few of many upcoming projects.

10,000 Smiles

This project will give host city children living in deprived communities or from disadvantaged social backgrounds the opportunity to attend a match. One thousand tickets will be made available for these children at matches in each of ten host cities. This project is run in partnership with the host cities and the German ministry of the interior.

Football for UNITY 2.0

Football for UNITY 1.0FC Nordsjaelland

With the support of the European Commission’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), UNITY 2.0 follows on from UNITY 1.0, which was deployed for EURO 2020. The project shows the European public that football can help migrants from outside Europe to integrate and feel included.

The project will comprise three programmes:

1. Team Up for Solidarity provides sports-specific solutions to ensure a long-term, sustainable commitment to migrants and refugees.
2. Switch the Pitch is an inclusive training and education programme to reduce exclusion and discrimination against migrants at all levels of football.
3. Inclusion Card Deck help integrate the values of non-discrimination and anti-racism into the supporter culture in collaboration with Football Supporters Europe (FSE).

Awabot

Awabot is an interactive, remotely controlled robot that helps children who are in hospital or a rehabilitation centre to share the experience of EURO 2024 by bringing them into the stadium virtually. They will be able to discover the pre-match atmosphere and chat to the players of their favourite team.

The Second Life

The Second Life project was launched after EURO 2016 to redistribute the materials and extra equipment left over from the tournament to local charities. The purpose is two-fold: avoiding throwing away or storing barely used equipment, and supporting projects or associations that work with children.