Gibraltar Walking Football’s success last week in the first UEFA Walking Football Cup held in Nyon, Switzerland spelt a pivotal moment for Gibraltar as it took a key role in the development of the sport.
Gibraltar was one of four nations participating in the pilot edition which has seen Gibraltar officials also discussing issues on how the game can move forward as UEFA starts to bring the game under its umbrella through its member associations.
At the moment Walking Football has been at the fringes of the main UEFA football community. Gibraltar is among one of the only associations where the governing body has brought Walking Football directly under its umbrella. With nations such as England seeing Walking Football with its own separate association.
Last weeks pilot edition of the UEFA Walking Football Cup was the first ever football event at UEFA HQ and comes as part of and ambitious plan by UEFA “to mobilise the football community to promote healthy and active lifestyles and widen the engagement of players across all age groups, particularly older adults.”
Walking Football participants in Gibraltar explained that Gibraltar has become an example for some associations on how the main UEFA member associations can bring under their umbrella Walking Football, with Gibraltar having been doing it since the start.
The tournament also saw Gibraltar come away with some important performance on the field. Having previously beaten Portugal and Sweden along the way the team beat England 3-2 in the final crowning them champions.
Minister for Sport Leslie Bruzon congratulated the squad adding that: “In a week where we have several representative squads and clubs competing both locally and abroad this is fantastic news and shows that Gibraltar is ably represented across many sports and categories”.
READ MORE at source / pic credit: https://www.chronicle.gi/gibraltar-walking-football-a-beacon-for-others-as-uefa-embarks-on-ambitious-programme
Author: The Walking Football
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