March 10 – The Bulgarian legend and Ballon d’Or winner Hristo Stoichkov was the central figure during the official launch of the innovative “FIFA Football for Schools” program in Athens.
The event, held on March 9, marked the beginning of a collaboration between the Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) and the Greek Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports.
In his role as a FIFA Ambassador, Stoichkov conveyed the full support of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who was behind this initiative. The Bulgarian legend emphasised the crucial importance of sport as a tool for inspiration and a means of connecting education with the core values of football.
The first day of the event featured active presentations on the project’s philosophy, delivered by the FIFA educational team. A major focus was placed on the “Football for Schools App,” a digital tool designed to be the primary resource for teachers in organizing activities within educational institutions.
The theoretical portion was followed by a practical demonstration on the pitch at the Near East stadium, where the program’s core methodologies were implemented under the guidance of international specialists and representatives from Greek institutions.
For the current school year, the project will cover 41 schools across various regions of the country, including the islands of Ithaca, Milos, Rhodes, and Chios, as well as the regions of Crete, Thessaly, Evros, and Florina.
Physical education teachers and federation instructors are participating in the training process to integrate football activities into the school environment. To facilitate this, all participating institutions will be provided with specialized sports equipment and educational materials.
Future ambitions are extensive, with plans to expand the program to over 500 schools across Greece by next year, further strengthening the bond between sport and the educational community.
Contact the writer of this story, Alexander Krassimirov, at moc.l1773131749labto1773131749ofdlr1773131749owedi1773131749sni@o1773131749fni1773131749
