The European Legends Walking Football Tournament

The European Legends Walking Football Tournament

The European Legends Walking Football Festival was hosted by the European Football for Development Network in collaboration with Vitesse Betrokken at their training grounds at Papendal, Arnhem, the Netherlands on the 18th -20th September 2017.

Overall, 21 Walking Football teams from all across Europe participated in the Festival. Teams came from Portugal, Belgium, England, the Netherlands, Germany, Cyprus and Norway to participate in the tournament, making the festival a truly European event.

The European Legends Walking Football project promotes the aims of the HEPA Guidelines and the true European values of sport and will increase awareness regarding the role of sport in promoting health-enhancing physical activities, social inclusion and equal opportunities. Furthermore it encourages increased participation in sport, physical activity and voluntary activity in a hard to reach target group. Walking Football and Walking Sport methodology reaches people of 50 years and older that until recently were out of reach for grassroots sport clubs and sport based community organisations.

The European Legends Walking Football Festival was a great opportunity for all participating clubs to come together along with local authorities, stakeholders and sponsors to celebrate the lifespan of the programme and look at the sustainable avenues to continue the inspirational work within their regions.

Congratulations to all teams who participated in the Walking Football Tournament, and made new friends and contacts from all around Europe!