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Welcome to CAFE!

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We are the Centre for Access to Football in Europe.
'Total Football - Total Access'

CAFE is supported by the UEFA and is working closely with its 53 associations to improve access in European football stadia.

CAFE Week of Action 2013 - Total Football, Total Access

CAFE Week of Action - Total Football, Total Access

CAFE Week of Action - Total Football, Total Access

CAFE Week of Action - Total Football, Total Access

The first CAFE Week of Action - Total Football, Total Access - ran in Poland and Ukraine from 13-21 April 2013.

This campaign, which was supported by football’s governing bodies in the region, invited football clubs and fans groups to celebrate improved inclusion within the game and aimed to promote the accessible facilities and services being provided on matchdays for their disabled supporters. A host of activities took place at football stadiums across Poland and Ukraine.

We were delighted by the response from all stakeholders and the following sections provide more detail about the activities and tremendous support received locally.

To see a full summary report of the CAFE Week of Action - 'Total Football, Total Access' - please click here.


Support for the Week of Action

CAFE received statements of support in both Poland and Ukraine from representatives of the major football governing bodies.

CAFE Week of Action banner in PGE Arena, Gdansk President of Football Polish League, Michal Listkiewicz, said, “On behalf of the Football Polish League, I am pleased to support the Centre for Access to Football in Europe (CAFE) in the Week of Action campaign – Total Football, Total Access. We are all responsible for ensuring full accessibility for disabled football fans. Everyone has an equal right to watch live football, because it is an unforgettable experience. That's why the Football Polish League continues to support CAFE in achieving this goal. I appeal to all players, coaches, and fans of league clubs to support the activities of CAFE, and the recognition of disabled fans as important, worthy of great respect, members of the football family. I wish you much success CAFE and good luck”.

CAFE Week of Action banner in Dnipro Arena, UkraineGeneral Director of the Ukrainian Premier League Piotr Ivanov said, “On behalf of the Ukrainian Premier League and myself, I am delighted to support the Centre for Access to Football in Europe (CAFE) in organising the Week of Action – Total Football, Total Access. We all have a responsibility to ensure that football is truly inclusive and naturally includes many disabled supporters, because being part of live football at a stadium leaves unforgettable impression on every person’s life. The CAFE Week of Action reminds all of us that attending a football match must be accessible for every supporter. That is why the Premier League of Ukraine continues to support CAFE in achieving its goal of improving access for disabled fans. We wish CAFE great success and further prosperity. Total Football, Total Access!”.

CAFE is very grateful for all of the fantastic support that the Week of Action campaign received.

 

Week of Action activities - Poland

The CAFE Week of Action – Total Football, Total Access – was warmly received in both Poland and Ukraine, and a number of activities took place to mark the campaign.

The Polish FA gave their full support to the Week of Action and published information about the campaign through their official channels. Ekstraklasa - the Polish top flight - also supported the initiative and supplied information on the Week of Action to all of their clubs.

Total Football Total Access at KatowiceClubs including GKS Katowice, Gornik Zabrze, Lechia Gdansk, Cracovia and Flota Swinoujscie got involved in the Week of Action, with such activities as pre-match or half time ceremonies, statements of support being read aloud at stadiums and stories being added to club websites. Stadion Narodowy - the Polish national stadium - implemented audio descriptive commentary using equipment

donated by CAFE in legacy of UEFA EURO 2012. Stadion Narodowy gave their support to the Week of Action and publicised the campaign via their website.

 

Week of Action activities - Ukraine

In Ukraine, the CAFE Week of Action – Total Football, Total Access – was fully supported by the Ukrainian Premier League, who dedicated the weekend of 20-21st April to the Week of campaign. All 8 games played that weekend featured a pre-match ceremony with both the teams and matchday officials entering the field wearing CAFE-branded t-shirts (280 in total), and displaying CAFE Week of Action banners. A statement of support was read out by the PA Announcers in the stadiums during the line-ups, and a story was shared with all clubs to promote the Week of Action campaign in their matchday programmes and websites. The CAFE Total Football, Total Access video was shown on the big screens where available in each of the stadiums.

CAFE Week of Action in UkraineThe ceremonies took place at the stadiums of Illichivets Mariupol, Metalurh Zaporizhya, Metalurh Donetsk, Zorya, Tavriya, Metalist Kharkiv, Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk and Arsenal Kiev, and featured all teams in the league. Each of the ceremonies was broadcasted on national television, and they can be viewed on the CAFE YouTube page.

Additionally, Karpaty Lviv carried out a similar ceremony the weekend prior to this, at their home match with Dynamo Kiev. Both Karpaty and Metalist Kharkiv implemented audio descriptive commentary services using equipment donated by CAFE in legacy of UEFA EURO 2012. Vorskla, Chernomorets Odessa and Shakhtar Donetsk also carried out additional activities including messages in matchday programmes, promotional films shown on stadium screens, stadium and museum tours for disabled supporters and interviews with fans.

We would like to thank all the clubs, stadiums and supporters who took part in activities to mark the CAFE Week of Action - Total Football, Total Access.

 

CAFE Week of Action in the media

The Week of Action campaign received widespread media coverage across both Poland and Ukraine.

CAFE t-shirt on the Metalist Kharkiv websiteIn Poland, the CAFE Week of Action received a large amount of attention, including live coverage by the Orange Sport TV, and popular sport and information services such as gazeta.pl, and local radio Eska Gdansk. The
declaration of support for the Week of Action was also published widely on many disability and sport online services.

In Ukraine, football clubs posted the CAFE press release on their official websites, whilst some mentioned the campaign in matchday programmes. As a result, press releases and promotional stories were shared with many Ukrainian media contacts. All 9 matches that covered the CAFE Week of Action including the pre-match ceremonies were aired live on several national channels (such as 2+2, Football, Football Plus). CAFE took part in a radio show in Kharkiv to promote the newly-installed audio descriptive commentary at Metalist Stadium. Many clubs included articles and editorials about CAFE and the Week of Action in their matchday programmes and on their websites.

 

CAFE Awards of Special Recognition

CAFE took the decision to present an award of special recognition in both Poland and Ukraine to 2 people who have consistently displayed their commitment to improving stadium accessibility and the matchday experiences of disabled supporters.

Sylwia Zapisek receiving her awardCAFE’s Project Manager in Poland, Maria Popielawska presented an award to Sylwia Zapisek. Sylwia has been attending football matches for a long time, as the personal assistant of her young son Dawid until his untimely death. Dawid was very active as a disabled supporter and an instantly recognisable face amongst disabled supporters across Poland. Since his death, Sylwia has continued Dawid’s great works in his legacy, and has overseen the creation of a Disabled Supporters Association (DSA) in his honour. Sylwia is now the President of this DSA, and continues to use her influence to improve the facilities for disabled supporters across all of sport disciplines in Poland.

Alexander Atamanenko receiving his awardIn Ukraine, CAFE Head of Development in Eastern Europe, Elena Karpukhina travelled to Donetsk to present a similar award to Alexander Atamanenko, the CEO of Shakhtar Donetsk’s Donbass Arena. Ever since the stadium was built, the Donbass Arena has always looked to prioritise facilities for disabled supporters and the stadium operators are proud to call it one of the most proactive stadiums in Europe. Improvements are regularly made at the stadium, and the club seeks to provide a comfortable, accessible and enjoyable experience for all supporters. Alexander and his colleagues are committed to a fully-accessible Donbass Arena, and have continually demonstrated this.

 

Total Football - Total Access

The CAFE Week of Action - Total Football, Total Access - was a very successful and worthwhile campaign that has yielded many positive results both for CAFE and for disabled supporters in Poland and Ukraine.

Week of Action activities in PolandIn Poland, CAFE was able to make contact with a number of clubs and as a result has cemented stronger partnerships with each to assist with further progress. A large number of disabled and non-disabled supporters were introduced to CAFE and took part in events to mark the Week of Action. CAFE also appointed Michal Listkiewicz, an influential figure in Polish football, as an Ambassador in Poland.

Polish clubs have committed to work with CAFE more closely and are actively looking to improve their facilities and services for disabled supporters at their stadiums.

Audio descriptive commentary - with thanks to Metalist Kharkiv for the photographIn Ukraine, the CAFE Week of Action activities were widely covered by the local media, which served to further raise awareness of the subject. The events facilitated new and existing cooperation between football clubs and their disabled supporters, and many clubs have agreed to continue to work with their disabled supporters in improving accessibility and their matchday experiences. Karpaty Lviv confirmed their intention to create a DSA, and Metalist Kharkiv’s newly formed group continues to grow as a result of the audio descriptive commentary service implemented at the club’s stadium. Equipment was also installed at Karpaty Lviv’s stadium, and further training at both clubs is planned for later in the year.

Clubs have outlined their intent to work with their disabled supporters on an on-going basis, and as a direct consequence of the Week of Action campaign Karpaty Lviv have improved the accessible facilities at their stadium, including the creation of accessible parking spaces. Metalist Kharkiv have also made plans to improve their facilities by installing contrast strips on stairs, which will benefit partially sighted supporters.

The activities in Simferopol encouraged the city administration to support further initiatives by Tavriya and CAFE, including plans for a local school for disabled children. The Premier League of Ukraine gave strong and important support to the CAFE Week of Action, and they also considered the campaign to be a resounding success for all involved.

Blind and partially sighted children in Lviv The CAFE Week of Action - Total Football, Total Access - in Poland and Ukraine, has been a resounding success and surpassed all expectation. A huge thank you to everybody who helped to make it possible!

CAFE is now looking forward to next year's Week of Action in Poland and Ukraine, and looking to extend the campaign across other parts of Europe.

 

CAFE attends 'The Power of Tolerance' event

The Power of ToleranceCAFE Head of Development in Eastern Europe, Elena Karpukhina, recently represented CAFE at the 'The Power of Tolerance' event in Zagreb, Croatia.

The event took place on the 29th of May, and was organised by the regional Youth-Info Centre “Rijeka-UMKI”, to promote a newly published manual against all forms of discrimination in football, entitled ‘Power of Tolerance’.

CAFE was invited as a key speaker, and as one of the main contributors to the manual who provided good practice solutions for creating an accessible stadium and matchday experience. CAFE is looking forward to further fruitful cooperation with the local stakeholders to improve the matchday experience of disabled football supporters and promote good practice in the region.

For more information, please click here.

 

EGLSF launch game to challenge discrimination

The European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation (EGLSF) has recently launched a new football gaming application for mobile phones.

The app, called ‘UpFront’, has been designed with an emphasis on fun, helping to promote equality and inclusion by challenging discrimination and negative behaviour in sport.

The multi-level game, which is suitable for children and young people, aged 11 and above, is available to download from GooglePlay for Android. Other partners involved in the project include the FARE Network, Pride Sports, Out in Slovenia, Fédération Sportive Gaie et Lesbienne, Frankfurt's Gay Sports Club and Atlasz.

For more information, please click here.

 

Access for All available in 13 languages

'Access for All' - The UEFA and CAFE Good Practice Guide to Creating an Accessible Stadium and Matchday Experience - is now available via the CAFE website in 13 European languages.

Access for AllThe aim of the guide is to provide a benchmark of good practice for both new and existing stadiums, offering practical, clear solutions that will help football clubs, national associations and stadium managers to deliver high-quality grounds with facilities and services that are accessible, inclusive and welcoming for all.

'Access for All' is available in English, French, Russian, German, Turkish, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Dutch, Portuguese, Serbian, Croatian and Romanian, as well as an accessible version in English. To view the guide, please click here.

 

Could you be a CAFE roving reporter?

Do you regularly attend football matches either as or with a disabled supporter?

We are looking to add to our group of roving reporters, publishing your accounts of attending football matches across Europe. It isn't a huge commitment, and your reports could prove to be really helpful for other disabled supporters who will be attending those stadiums in the future.

If you would like more information about becoming a CAFE roving reporter, please feel free to email us at info@cafefootball.eu.

We also continue to ask for your stadium comments, which can be uploaded via the CAFE website. Adding a comment is really easy to do, just select the country and club or stadium from the menus, and you can also attach any photographs that you have taken. If a stadium currently doesn't have a page set up, please email us at info@cafefootball.eu.

 

Club CAFE Network continues to grow

At our September 2011 conference we launched the CLUB CAFE network. CLUB CAFE exists to bring like-minded people together to work towards our goal of Total Football, Total Access.

Since the conference, the network has expanded considerably. People from all across Europe have added their voice to our cause. The more people speak up, the more our voices are heard.

For more information on CLUB CAFE and to download a copy of the form, please visit http://www.cafefootball.eu/en/club-cafe-1

 


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