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| CAFE News - April 2011 | www.cafefootball.eu |
Welcome to CAFE!
We are the Centre for Access to Football in Europe. CAFE is supported by the UEFA and is working closely with its 53 associations to improve access in European football stadia. |
New Office!
Mining the disability market
CAFE time in BelgiumAt the beginning of April, Keith Ferguson, CAFE Western European Development Officer visited Belgium. He met with: The Purple Army On Wheels
The Blue Army On Wheels
CAFE visits the NetherlandsIn the middle of April, Keith Ferguson, CAFE Western European Development Officer visited Holland as a part of his new role. During his time there he met with: AFC Ajax During his visit at AFC Ajax, Keith not only saw the facilities available for disabled fans but also discussed many subjects with Ineke Gielen from the Ajax Foundation, Bjorn Martens from the "Supportersvereniging Ajax" and Rolly Side  To visit disabled fans of Rolly Side group, Keith travelled to Groningen in the North of the Netherlands. Rolly Side was formed 5 years ago to coincide with the decision to build a new stadium at FC Groningen. There has been a great working relationship between Rolly Side and the club from the very beginning. This strong partnership continues to this day and ensures that new ideas and access improvements to the club’s facilities and services are always being reviewed. To read more about Keith's visit, click here.
A Polish perspective - setting the trend
New accessible area for away fans at St. Johnstone
Launching Fans’ Embassies Project in Ukraine
‘Hateful’ - a new report highliting discrimination
CAFE stands firmly against discrimination of any kind and our message is very clear, football has a place for every football fan and we will continue to work closely with our partners across Europe to ensure that the game is welcoming and accessible to all people. NEWS IN BRIEF1. Why the 2012 London Paralympics matter - What will the legacy of the 2012 London Paralympics be for athletes and spectators? While we debate the profile of the Paralympics, let's not forget the wider issues around disability and sport that are in danger of being overlooked. To find out more about the issue of legacy of the 2012 Paralympics, click here. 2.The ‘NEVER AGAIN’ Association received the Honorary Medal -in Commemoration of the Warsaw Ghetto, awarded by the Association of Jewish Ex-Combatants and Victims of the Second World War.To find out more about this award, click here. 3. 2nd International Football Friendship Tournament "FESTIVAL DEL BALON" - Gran Canaria, Spain is looking forward to the 2nd International Football Friendship Tournament "FESTIVAL DEL BALON" from November 7th to 12th, 2011. To find out more about this tournament, click here. 4. European Football Supporters Award - To reward football supporters who develop positive initiatives in or around stadiums. Created in 2005 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Heysel Tragedy, the European Football Supporters Award is very proud to publicize its seventh edition this year. To find out more about this award, click here. 5. Airlines facing EU clampdown for refusing disabled people travel - How many of you experience troubles travelling by air? Do you feel someting should be done to improve equility in air travel? Yes? If you are interested in this subject, ready this article by clicking here.
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CAFE continues to expand and grow. We are pleased to announce that recently CAFE has moved into a new office in Chester (North West England). At the present moment it’s two of us working from the office, Joyce Cook (CAFE Managing Director) and myself (CAFE Administration Manager). 
According to Rich Donovan, new and different action in disability holds the same promise as gold mining used to be - a significant economic benefit with relatively small outlays and adjustments. These new and different actions must come from three sources: government, business, and disabled people themselves. To look at all three actions 
Keith met up with Geert Thomas who is head of the Purple Army On Wheels a fans group at R.S.A Anderlecht. This disabled fans club was formed 2 years ago and already has a strong membership. Purple Army On Wheels is well organised and works closely with the football club on all matters for disabled fans and to continue to improve access. 
Keith also met up with some of the members of the Blue Army On Wheels who are all supporters of K.R.C. Genk. The club was formed in 2000 and was the first disabled supporters club in Belgium. They currently have 250 members and are well organised and passionate about improving accessible facilities. They have a good relationship with the club, the city of Genk and province of Limburg authorities. 
A first blog from Pawel Parus. Pawel has been a wheelchair user for almost 11 years. He started the Silesia Wroclaw Disabled Supporters Club (DSA) more than 2 years ago and this is the first DSA in Poland. He is about to finish his studies in journalism at the University of Lower Silesia, specializing in sports journalism. In this blog Pawel presents to you some of the challenges faced by a disabled supporter in Poland in arriving to a football match. 
On 2nd April 2011 St. Johnstone FC opened the new accessible area during the match with St. Johnstone vs Kilmarnock. The improvements include new car parking spaces which are located next to the accessible stadium entrance which in turn leads directly to the new disabled fans area and a brand new accessible toilet which has been installed on the same level. 
This announcement was made by the First Deputy Head of the State Department of Youth and Sports of Ukraine Sergey Gluschenko at the press conference that took place in the press centre ‘Ukraine-2012’. During his speech he stated that CAFE is their partner for access and inclusion issues and emphasized the importance of good access for disabled fans. CAFE will be actively involved in this project to make sure that disabled fans’ rights are taken into account and good access is provided at all stationary fans’ embassies in all host cities. 
This report covers an 18 month period from September 2009 to March 2011, detailing 195 individual discriminatory incidents involving football in Poland and Ukraine. CAFE is aware of a small number of incidents involving disability abuse that have occurred during this period. If you hear or see any discriminatory abuse including disability related issues, please be assured that you can notify the football authorities or their partners in football in complete confidence. You can either contact 
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