As a prelude to the real thing this summer, Lille and Lens will soon be put through their paces as they play host to the EURO FOOT Jeunes schools’ tournament.
Supported by the UEFA Foundation for Children and organised jointly by France’s National Union of School Sport (UNSS), the International School Sport Federation (ISF), EURO 2016 SAS and the French Football Federation (FFF), the EURO FOOT Jeunes schools’ tournament is aimed at children all over Europe. This major sporting event, which will take place between 30 May and 5 June in northern France, promises to be an enthralling and highly enjoyable experience for all concerned.
This extraordinary event, which will take place in Lens and Lille, will feature both boys’ and girls’ competitions. A total of 800 players will take part, competing for 32 teams from 25 different countries.
A number of big names from the world of football will be dropping by to show their support, including Rio Mavuba, Laura Georges, Djibril Cissé, Raphaël Varane and Lotta Schelin.
You can watch the official tournament video here: http://bit.ly/ClipEFJ (UNSS’s Facebook account)
Match Schedule here:
Highlights of the event
Monday 30 May
10.30 Opening match of girls’ competition: France v Germany
Attended by the president of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais-Picardie regional council and Olivier Dacourt
Stade François Blin, rue Arthur Lamendin, 62210 Avion
20.00 Opening ceremony and parade of nations
Attended by Patrick Kanner, French minister for urban affairs, youth and sport
Palacium, 2 rue Breughel, 59650 Villeneuve-d’Ascq
21.30 Concert featuring Lord Kossity and Sarahba
Palacium, 2 rue Breughel, 59650 Villeneuve-d’Ascq
Tuesday 31 May
10.30 Girls’ competition: France v Luxembourg
Attended by Djibril Cissé
La Gaillette (RC Lens’s training complex), rue Arthur Lamendin, 62210 Avion
12.30 Children meet and have lunch with French men’s team and Djibril Cissé
Thursday 2 June
11.30 Opening of the EURO FOOT Jeunes village attended by Djibril Cissé
Stadium Lille Métropole, avenue de la Châtellenie, 59650 Villeneuve-d’Ascq
Friday 3 June
16.30 Presentation ceremony for the UNSS Cup – a tournament combining virtual reality and real football for schoolchildren attending collèges in the department of Nord
Stadium Lille Métropole, avenue de la Châtellenie, 59650 Villeneuve-d’Ascq
Saturday 4 June
17.00 Diversity tournament (4 teams; 40 big names invited by the FFF)
Palais Saint Sauveur, 78 avenue du Président John F. Kennedy, 59000 Lille
19.30 Vernissage of Just Play exhibition at Lille City Hall
The UEFA Foundation for Children is taking this opportunity to showcase the Just Play programme, which uses football to foster the education and development of children on Pacific islands. This photo exhibition at Lille City Hall documenting the programme will be open to the public from 4 June.
21.00 Charity dinner in support of Orphelins de Makala (Orphans of Makala), an association set up by Rio Mavuba, and the ISF’s School Sport Foundation
Lille City Hall, place Augustin Laurent, 59000 Lille
Sunday 5 June
13.30 Final of girls’ competition
Stadium Lille Métropole, avenue de la Châtellenie, 59650 Villeneuve-d’Ascq
15.00 Private concert featuring Walshy Fire (Major Lazer), Lord Kossity and Sarahba
15.30 Final of boys’ competition
Stadium Lille Métropole, avenue de la Châtellenie, 59650 Villeneuve-d’Ascq
17.00 Presentation of medals by French internationals Mamadou Sakho, Kheira Hamraoui and Laura Georges
17.30 Closing ceremony
Media representatives wishing to attend the tournament can request an accreditation via the links below:
http://eurofootjeunes.fr/presse
Contact persons for media enquiries:
Aurélie Bresson (+33 (0)6 59 54 99 17; presse@unss.org)
Kevin Paris: (+33 (0)6 72 07 11 59; kparis@revolutionr.com)