Salou will host the Soccer 7 World Cup for people with brain injury

The Men’s and Women’s Soccer 7 World Cup for people with brain injury will be held in Salou, during the months of April and May.

The matches will bring together teams from around the world: Germany, England, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Spain, Holland, Iran, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Russia, Thailand, Ukraine, USA and Venezuela, (men); and Argentina, Australia, Spain, Holland, Japan and USA (female). The matches will be played between April 27 and May 18 at the Futbol Salou Sports Center.

The official presentation of the 7-a-side Men’s and Women’s World Cup for people with brain injuries took place on Thursday in the gardens of the Municipal Tourist Board of Salou, with the assistance of the Mayor and Deputy Delegate for European Projects and the Region of Knowledge of Salou. the Provincial Council of Tarragona, Pere Granados ; the president of the Catalan Sports Federation for Cerebral Palsy (FECPC), Carlos Munoz ; the president of the Spanish Sports Federation for People with Cerebral Palsy and Acquired Brain Injury (FEDPC), Julian Rebollo; and the territorial representative of Sport in Tarragona, of the General Secretary of Sport of the Generalitat, Carmina Blay.

The event was also attended by the Councilor for Sports of the Salou City Council, Daniel López, the Councilor for Educational Services, Julia Gómez, and different representatives of collaborating institutions, entities and companies.

As an important fact, and as for the women’s, it can be said that this will be the first edition in history, with the Catalan Sports Federation for Cerebral Palsy (FECPC) being the promoter and pioneer of the project.

In the case of the men’s team, the winner will become the world champion for the next 4 years.

The competitions will be played at the Fútbol Salou Sports Center, a complex that has 15 high-quality soccer fields, with natural and artificial grass, to host the two world competitions.

The mayor of Salou, president of the Municipal Tourist Board and provincial deputy, Pere Granados, He stressed that “we are facing great values ​​that arise from the practice of sport in the environment of social diversity”, a diversity “of which we must be aware and respect it to the fullest”. And he has also mentioned inclusion. In this sense, he has said, “we have to work so that no one feels excluded from our society and from the activities that may be carried out”, either through public institutions or through the private sphere.

He also stated that Salou is committed to “sports tourism, but also inclusive tourism, in the broadest sense of the word.”

He also recalled that we are endorsed by different seals, such as sports tourism, awarded by the Catalan Tourism Agency, in 2013, with the first form of football, and with the Futbol Salou Sports Center facilities. Also, in 2016, the light sailing modality; in 2018, the certification in cycling tourism; in 2020, the Golf brand; and in 2021, the Triathlon modality.

He pointed out that the 7-a-side football international championship to be held in Salou, apart from instilling value, should help deseasonalize the tourist season and the practice of many sports, with quality guarantees.

Salou wants to be a sustainable destination, in all areas, economic, social and labor, he stated; emphasizing values ​​such as “socialization” and “peace, as a basic principle of coexistence”.

Finally, he thanked the involvement in the event by the Catalan and Spanish federations, the Generalitat and all the people, entities and collaborating companies.

The president of the Catalan Sports Federation for Cerebral Palsy (FECPC), Carlos Munoz, For his part, he has shown his satisfaction at being able to hold this event, especially due to the fact that “it is organized with the first women’s football 7-a-side competition in the world”, a bet by the Federation. She assured that “it will be a complete success”, given that “we go hand in hand with true professionals”; and it has highlighted the fact that, increasingly, people with brain injury are more integrated into society, in all areas. Finally, she thanked the Salou City Council for their collaboration, and all the parties involved in the organization of this great event.

The president of the Spanish Federation of Sports for People with Cerebral Palsy and Acquired Brain Injury (FEDPC), Julián Rebollo, thanked Salou for their welcome and the support of the Generalitat for “making our athletes’ dreams come true”; as well as the organization and work carried out by the Catalan Federation. Also, he has pointed out that “children and young people who suffer from this disease the best thing they can do is go out, be in society, move forward and have a future”; and he has valued “the effort they make, because they can reach their maximum, like any other athlete, without adjectives”. Finally, he wished the Spanish coach, Jorge Peleteiro, and the player Susanna Pérez, who were also present at the event, much success.

And the territorial representative of Sport in Tarragona, of the General Secretary of Sport of the Generalitat, Carmina Blay, has highlighted “the accentuated social role” of the event, which “will allow us to make adapted sport visible, as a tool that transmits values ​​and of inclusion”. This cup, he said, “projects Catalonia to the world as a sporting country” and “can be a stimulus to give more visibility to women’s sport at home”, since “we have potential, we have players, we have teams and we need to call it much more”. She added that “this is a World Cup to generate new 7-a-side football players among the youngest girls, in this case, for people with brain injury”. And she highlighted the role of families for their support and fight.

The Men’s World Cup (2022 Male World Cup) will be played from April 27 to May 16. 16 teams, 400 athletes, 100 volunteers / arias will participate. There will be a total of 48 matches.

The Women’s World Cup (2022 Female World Cup) will be played from May 7 to May 18 and, in this case, 6 teams, 160 athletes, 100 volunteers, and there will be 15 games will participate.

Involvement of the educational centers of Salou

Salou schools will receive awareness sessions the week of April 4 to 8. The 5th and 6th grade students from the Santa María del Mar School, Salou School, Europa School, Vora Mar School and Elisabeth School will participate.

Also, the students of 1st ESO, from the Institut Jaume I and the Institut Marta Mata. At the Escola Internacional del Camp they will also receive awareness-raising sessions, and other training to volunteer in the competition. In total, about 1,200 students will enjoy these days.

During matches, the participation of the public is essential. Thus, having the assistance of the students in the different confrontations, taking into account the COVID regulations, is one of the important actions to consider at the promotion level.

The FECPC’s foundational objective is the training of professionals in physical activity and sports and physical education, in the field of adapted sports and its usefulness as a tool for educational and social inclusion. In addition, it advises public and private entities in the processes of integration and inclusion; as well as attention to diversity, through sport.