Special Olympics and FIFA launch “Global Football” partnership

SHANGHAI, 30 September 2007

On the day of the Women’s World Cup Final and two days before the Special Olympics Summer Games in Shanghai, the Special Olympics and FIFA joined forces to launch their “Global Football” partnership. This ongoing program sees the Special Olympics focusing on a single sport for the first time.

Football was chosen because of its universality, said Timothy Shriver, Chairman of the Special Olympics. It gave athletes with mental disabilities the chance to “participate in a global movement – the chance to be seen for people who are usually invisible.” At this year’s Special Olympics Summer Games there will be a “unified” competition, where people with mental disabilities will play with people without in the same team. This way, Shriver says, “It is no longer simply about helping someone, we are actually team-mates; all on the same level.”

The partnership with FIFA’s “Football for Hope” made Joseph S. Blatter a “very proud President of FIFA” in giving his support to “this absolutely outstanding initiative of the Special Olympics”. Citing the instinctive nature of the sport of football (“the game is so easy”), he pledged the full support of all 208 FIFA member associations to promote and facilitate greater participation across the world.

The targets are ambitious: leading up to the World Cup in South Africa, the Special Olympics want to double the number of players, train 20,000 new football coaches and increase the proportion of women players to 30 per cent. Specific programs in Africa aim to increase the participation from 10 countries to 25. “We don’t say we can change the whole world, but for our athletes it is a huge change in their world” said Shriver.

As the icing on the cake of the launch, Adidas’s regional Managing Director, Wolfgang Bentheimer presented Mr. Shriver with a cheque representing all the profits from his company’s “Rainbow Program”. Launched in May 2007, this is a specially designed range of products aimed at raising money for the Special Olympics.

The Special Olympics Summer Games 2007 begin with the opening ceremony at the Shanghai Stadium on Tuesday 2 October, 2007.

Women’s Football Symposium – working progress

SHANGHAI, 29 September 2007

The 4th Women’s Football Symposium concluded with FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter receiving a standing ovation for commending the Symposium Declaration. Delegates agreed, amongst other things, to establish development plans, seek active partnerships with government, media and business, and to develop greater opportunities for girls and women from grassroots to the top level.

Mary Harvey, former US international and host for the event, repeatedly emphasised that women’s football was not a narrow concern. This was about teamwork: “This is not us versus them. This is about us doing something terrific together and enabling women to have more opportunities to play sports.”

The carefully structured format of the presentations meant that the event remained focused, succinct and business-like, despite predictable calls from the floor for more money and vague platitudes about “awareness raising”.

Key to avoiding these generalist traps was careful planning and strategy. Partners should not be merely approached, they should be courted with ideas and proposals that will help them achieve their own aims. Instinctive lobbying of only the Sports Ministry should be supplemented with strategies that looked at how women’s football campaigns can help achieve aims in Education and Health Ministries. Research and targeting was crucial.

In the private sector, New Zealand’s “Small Whites” grassroots football programme has secured sponsorship and shared marketing deals with multinationals eager to reach the young families to whom football appeals. The self-funding project has been so successful that in rugby-obsessed New Zealand, football is now the number one sport with young people – boys and girls.

Stories about the overwhelming popularity of the game were common throughout. Chile, which hosts next year’s U20 Women’s World Cup, was able to boast of an U14 tournament where four new teams were made up of players who just came on their own. One of these girls had come 40 miles and went on to be named player of the tournament.

Another important cause was“credentialising” the women’s game – helping people and the media understand more that there is nothing odd or inferior about female football. At times it was right to strike a different path from the men’s game: development of female coaches, referees and administrators was essential for providing role models and keeping girls and women in the game when their playing careers are over. However, there was nothing wrong with using existing structures and interest in the men’s game. The English FA’s simultaneous kit launch (where Faye White took equal billing with David Beckham) was just one example of how profiles can be raised through co-operation with the men’s game.

Peter Jenkins, President of the St Kitts and Nevis Football Association expressed the concerns of many when he said that “stigma and discrimination are critical points that continue to hold back the growth of women’s football.” An inspirational presentation from Pakistani politician and proud “soccer mom” Rabina Irfan highlighted how much can be achieved with the right plans and partnerships, no matter the fierceness of traditionalist opposition. The Pakistani National Women’s League is now in its third year and is looking to set up regional competitions to accommodate all the teams that wish to participate.

Adapting FIFA’s slogan as “For the Game. For the World. For the Women.” the 4th Women’s Football Symposium proved the many ways in which women’s football is developing at all levels all over the world, from Namibia to New Zealand.

Now that key factors have been identified and examples of success championed, it remains to be seen how well these will be used to bring to full fruition Mr Blatter’s promise that “The future of football is feminine.” It looks like a good start.

FIFA 4th Women’s Football Symposium Declaration

Quarter-final line up starts to take shape

SHANGHAI, 18 September 2007

The USA finished top of their group after narrowly defeating Nigeria in a rain-soaked encounter in Shanghai. They now face Group A runners-up England in Tianjin on Saturday. Despite losing their last game to Sweden, North Korea qualified for the last eight for the first time in their history. They will face the formidable Germany, who, despite again failing to reach the highs of their first match, defeated Japan comfortably in their final group game.

Instant Predictions (aka “preparing for egg on face”):

USA – England: If they defend like they did against Germany, then England could hold the USA’s three-pronged frontline for some time. However, impressive though Kelly Smith has been so far, England probably don’t have enough speed and guile going forward to break through the fierce US defensive-line. It could come down to how well each side uses their wing-play and who wins the aerial battles. The USA will probably prove too strong.

Germany – North Korea: I haven’t seen as much of Korea as I would have liked, but they are building a reputation as being not only fast, but tough as well. Germany are as tough as they get, but have shown a few surprising weaknesses in the first round. Against Argentina some slack passing went unpunished, while their forwards seemed subdued against both England and Japan. Most money will be on Germany to prevail, but an outside bet on North Korea might not be totally unreasonable.

Match Report:

    

USA 1 Nigeria 0

Greg Ryan, USA team coach, was in diplomatic but confident form after a hard-fought victory in the pouring rain in Shanghai confirmed his side’s to placing in Group B. Praising Nigeria for their strong performances throughout the Group stage, he said of next opponents England “I expected them to make it. In the game against Germany they showed how strong they are.” But Ryan has no doubts about the abilities of his young squad: “Our team defending makes it very difficult to beat us. We’ll be able to take that into the next round and the one after. This team has what it takes to win this World Cup.”

A lucky deflection from a long-throw set-piece allowed them to take the lead on 54 seconds. For most of the game they looked sure of holding this, but Nigeria gave them some scares in the second half and in the end the Americans were glad of the final whistle.

The playing surface, which was of decidedly patchy quality before a single drop of rain had fallen, did no favours for either side. The weighting of passes was very difficult to judge as sometimes the puddles held the ball up, sometimes the slickness of the grass carried the ball faster than expected ahead of the onrushing players.

Nigeria in particular seemed to struggle at first to find a way to play their preferred fast, short passing game and somehow break down a strong, organised US defense. For the US, Abby Wambach and captain Kristine Lilly both came close, but could not extend their lead.

The last ten minutes saw sustained Nigerian pressure, with the tireless Pepetua Nkwocha setting up an excellent chance for Stella Mbachu that Hope Powell had to do well to get down and save at her near post.

Nigeria coach, Ntiero Effiom, praised his players’ performance, heralding them as proof that Africa deserves more qualifying places for the Women’s World Cup. With a little more luck or a stronger final product, they may have had the scoreline tonight to back that up.

Notes and trivia from week one

Media

Bearing in mind accredited media have been bombarded with emails from FIFA for almost a year about this event, it is not surprise that most things have gone very smoothly. Most journalists I’ve spoken to are satisfied with the way things have been managed, everyone has got where they have needed to be. The Media Centre is fairly well stocked, there are big TVs, internet and computer access, food and drink and countless volunteers to hand out print outs of all the relevant match info (team sheets, statistical reports at half and full time for all games, etc).

The media lunch was a little underwhelming – the “Western” part of the “Chinese and Western buffet” turned out to be French Fries and, er, that’s it.

I managed to have a quick chat with Nicolas Maignot (FIFA”media officer” – a catch-all term) on Friday evening, he said the early TV figures were looking quite promising. Germany’s first game recorded a reported 25% audience share, about the same as a good Champions League game. In Japan the share for their first game was about 21%, while in Sweden there was apparently a near 50% audience share for their team’s first match. These statistics, especially if they are anywhere near being replicated elsewhere, bear out FIFA’s claims at the start of the month and, along with the quality of much of the football played so far, go a long way to refuting the doubts and cynicism of many (including myself at times) who wondered whether the tournament could deliver at such a high level.

Press Conferences These have been entertaining, if only for the fact that no one has yet adjusted to the fact that most questions and answers must be translated into English and Chinese. Germany’s coach, Silvia Neid, had a question in German that she could have answered immediately, but after waiting through the English and Chinese translations paused, looked at her water bottle, looked back up and said “What was the question again?” The translators have been of decidedly “mixed” quality. With a couple I’ve picked up more interesting information from the Chinese than from the “English” translation. They have been rather short, too, with many journalists’ questions left unasked and unanswered. But then, we all have the chance to go to the Mixed Room afterwards to ask coaches and players questions directly. Most players have been happy to stay and chat for some time, again flanked by the volunteers.

Inside the Stadium

Volunteers - It is an army of volunteers that the Local Organizing Committee has put together. You cannot walk through or past a door or gate without seeing at least four red-shirted volunteers. Some look sheepish, some look sparkily happy, others look, frankly, bored our of their minds. Many of them do not have the English skills to deal with foreigners, but to their credit, they will rush off to grab the arm of a colleague they know can cut the mustard. I quite enjoy speaking in Chinese with them. Most of them are senior high school or university students and had to pass at least two interviews to get the gig. Do they enjoy it? “Yes, I think it is interesting and can give us a good experience.” Do they actually like football? “Just so so.” Who is their favourite female football player? “I don’t know.” Oh.

Police/Stewards - a larger police presence than I had expected. Most likely my expectations were well out. Fans are searched before they go in, and have to pass through metal detectors. Plastic bottles are not allowed to be taken in. But bottled drinks are sold in the stadium. And besides, if the plastic bottles ban was about safety, then how were the German and Japanese drummer-boys allowed in? There have been no major incidents for stewards to deal with.

The Fans - Again, there is a very good story here. Matches in Shanghai have enjoyed near capacity attendances for every game so far, and the story is similar for other venues. True, many fans have left before the end of games. True, there are a large number of group bookings. But is it a little lazy to simply say that people have been ordered to be there by the dastardly authorities? If there are hundreds of school children (in their uniforms) at football matches, who can say this is a bad thing? One downside of the non-partisan nature of most of the fans has been the prevalence of “Mexican waves” when the on-pitch action has been anything less than goal-goalmouth action. I thought England vs Germany was a wonderfully absorbing encounter (for some reason, only “encounters” are “absorbing”), but this taught, tactical battle had to compete against a Wave that went a full five cycles around the arena and was far more important to the fans than anything on the pitch. But, then, what is a World Cup for if not a carnival where people come together? There are many who argue that, contrary to many opinions, England vs Germany was actually very boring.

There have been many expats at the Shanghai games. Germany have done particularly well because of a large German multinational presence in the city, as have Japan. England have also had a very strong following – partly because English football fans get everywhere, but they also have many local fans thanks to the overwhelming popularity of the Premiership. It didn’t hurt that their first match was against Japan, either – as a taxi driver told me, “Everyone wants England to win 5-0!”

The atmosphere in the ground has been uniformly pleasant, excitable and polite. The players have reciprocated excellently by without fail applauding every corner of the ground at the end of every game. It’s all very civilized, really.

I am looking forward to the next two weeks of the tournament, though family commitments mean that I am unlikely to be able to get to any of the games outside Shanghai. Shame.

Miyama strikes late to deny England a dream start

**written at 01:00, Septembr 12 – please forgive any typos/errors until editing can be done after I’ve got some sleep!**

Japan 2 England 2

SHANGHAI, 11 September 2007

Japan grabbed a dramatic equaliser with the last kick of the game, but England will be kicking themselves for failing to kill the game off earlier.

After missing gilt-edged chances either side of half-time, England clawed their way back from 1-0 down thanks to two Kelly Smith goals in as many minutes. As they sought to wind down the clock rather than push for a third, they paid the ultimate price as a clumsy challenge 25 yards out allowed Aya Miyama to step up with her second free kick goal of the night.

The first half started poorly and hardly got better. If last night’s game teetered between the sublime and the ridiculous, this was decidedly dull. Stray short passes and aimless long ones became a depressing recurring pattern.

England set out their stall to flood the Japanese midfield and flummox their defence by employing Eniola Aluko as a lone striker with three forwards in a line behind her. After early unease, Japan responded by dropping deep when they were in possession and maintaining a frighteningly efficient off-side trap of which George Graham’s Arsenal would have been proud.

Few clear cut chances were created by either side, but neither England’s fans nor their bench could believe it when Aluko missed an open goal. Miho Fukumoto in the Japanese goal had raced out and missed the ball, pushing Aluko wide and closing down the angle, but the miss could prove costly in the race for second place in the Group behind Germany.

Kozue Ando came on for Japan in the second half and was given much more of a license to go forward down the right wing. She caused no end of problems and her surging runs led the attacks that forced both free kicks for the goals.

Having gone 1-0 down on 55 minutes, England rallied strongly and could have had a hat full of goals before Smith equalised – Japan defended in numbers and needed to as Aluko and Smith had efforts cleared off the line.

Eventually the pressure paid and Smith was able to stab home on 81 minutes. Just two minutes later, she found herself with room to run down the left and to take the ball around two Japanese defenders before smashing it into the back of the net at the second attempt. In celebrating her first, she kissed her own boot. Her team-mates were on hand to oblige this time around.

But the celebrations were premature. From a promising counter-attack position, England tried to play down the clock at the corner flag, but, as so often with both teams on the night, just could not hold onto the ball. A late knock for Sarah Brown was not excuse enough to be beaten again as much because of poor positioning as by the placement of the free kick. England applauded the crowd, but left the field looking and probably feeling as if they had lost, while Japan were able to bask in the delight of their many, many fans in the Hongkou Stadium.

Woman of the Match: Kelly Smith. She played an important role in a well-intentioned tactical ploy of switching forwards around all game. She was the spark in any England attack and, crucially, the only one with the clinical finishing necessary at a World Cup Finals.

The best or worst advert for women’s football?

Germany 11 Argentina 0

SHANGHAI, 10 Sep 2007. Group A.

It could be said that 11-0 is a flattering scoreline. Germany should have had more.

Aided and abeted by the ridiculous and the risible, Germany destroyed Argentina with as clear a statement of intent as possible about their desire and ability to retain their world title.

Two almost identical own goals from Argentinian goalkeeper, Vanina Correa, punching the ball into her own net from corners, bookended this opening match, while a Birget Prinz hat-trick showed that she has not lost any of the desire that propelled the German side to glory in the USA four years ago.

This was so one-sided nearly a third of the spectators left at half time and didn’t return. By the 85th minute less than half the announced attendance remained. They missed some goals, but the result was never in doubt.

Argentina huffed and puffed, but whenever they threatened a speedy break, Germany easily overwhelmed them with strength of numbers or sheer strength.

The Argentinian plan to woman-mark Prinz out of the game backfired spectacularly when the striker led her marker, Sabrina Barbitta, a merry dance around the field. Her tireless workrate created the space necessary for the German midfield to spray passes, make runs in and out of the channels and generally cause havock for the Argentinian defence. With winger Behringer and Garefrekes playing so far upfield, all Prinz had to do was drag her marker deep and leave Argentina three on three at the back.

Aside from the own goals (generously described on the PA as “a goal in the favour of the team of Germany”), there were some excellent moves: a 40-yard, Beckham-esque “Hollywood ball” for Garefrekes to volley in the second goal, a neat finish after a mazy run and cut-in from the left by Behringer, two trademark headers and a tap in from Prinz, a long ranger from Lingor, and a hat-trick from Prinz’s equally hard working strike partner, Sandra Smisek.

The goals looked impressive, the Germans strong and commanding, but in many ways this was like a computer game match on the “absolute beginners” setting. Not even a training session.

In the press conference afterwards, Prinz was asked what this said about the women’s game: “I think you should ask Argentina that question,” she replied, a little tartly, “This result was not our fault.” True. ‘You can only beat what’s in front of you’ as they say. But when the opening game of a World Cup ends 11-0, questions about true depth of quality will continue to hang around the women’s game. Sorry, Birgit…

Woman of the match: Birgit Prinz. It could really have been any of the Germans. Smisek ran the Argentians even more ragged than Prinz, Garefrekes and Behringer were constant menaces on the wings. But Prinz gave an exemplary performance in all the arts of forward play – holding the ball up, working a defence, creating space, clinical finishing – that few of her male equivalents could have carried off with such applomb. She responded to the Argentinian marking-plan by dragging poor Barbitta all over the pitch. Wide, deep, left, right. Her movement directly contributed to more than half of Germany’s total.

[pics and more detail to follow]

CORRECTION – “Beautiful Game. Beautiful GOALS.”

I thought it didn’t sound right at the time, but it turns out it was a problem of pronunciation from the translator at the press conference. Neither FIFA nor the Local Organizing Committee is suggesting people should watch to see some pretty players, they are simply anticipating some excellent goals to be scored. A different kind of pressure, then…

And judging by the stern question from an American reporter asking what on earth the physical attractiveness of the players had to do with anything, I was not the only one to have misheard our hosts… Lesson learned. Moving on.

“The driving force for developing women’s football”

That is the expectation for the 2007 Women’s World Cup, as described by Worawi Makudi, Chairman of the FIFA Committee for Women’s football, at the opening Press Conference in Shanghai.

In the plush surroundings of the 6* Shangrila Hotel in Pudong, a quiet group of foreign and domestic journalists and photographers were treated to a professional yet underwhelming introduction to what is supposed to be the premier event in women’s football.

Along with Lilly Xue, head of the local organising committee, Makudi rattled off a series of statistics: the 25% increase in television coverage compared to 2003, the predictions of 25-30,000 spectators at most games, and again the breakdown of the newly instituted prize money.

Are they protesting a little too much or did they just have very little else to say? Every time it is claimed that prize money of $1m for the winners of an international football competition is incredibly special it only serves to highlight how little that sounds compared to even the smallest of the men’s competitions.

There were the same platitudes about encouraging grassroots participation and an impressive turn from Richard Bridle of UNICEF about their “Goals for Girls” campaign, but as always, few specific details on how the women’s game is to be taken even half as seriously as the men’s game. The limp defence of the patronising “Beautiful game beautiful girls” slogan was just another example of how see correction above FIFA has yet to really get a handle on how to genuinely promote the women’s game as being of its own intrinsic value.

Intrinsic value was very much the focus of Bridle’s 5 minute talk about UNICEF’s partnership with FIFA. As he noted, the aim of ensuring equality of opportunity for girls across the world is an especially important one to promote in China, whose 119 boys for every 100 girls is, as Bridle pointedly noted, “not a natural statistic”. He was also the only one to accurately and persuasively articulate specific developmental benefits of participation in sport – self esteem, social interaction, teamwork, fair play, tolerance, and, of course, healthy physical development.

Living legend of women’s football, Sun Wen, was quiet but proud. She refused to be drawn on predicting a winner, as did everyone on the panel, and was even more cagey about China’s chances, claiming not to know much about their preparations. She was much keener to talk about her wider role as FIFA Ambassador, especially impressed with a recent TV programme about girls playing football in Afghanistan.

There is undoubtedly a lot going on in promoting women’s football, the UNICEF campaign for “child-friendly” schools is worthy and solid, but it will need stronger events and more persuasive speakers than this little press conference to make a difference.

From Monday, we shall see whether this tournament can rise to the challenge laid down.

China 2007

20 days. 16 teams. $6.4million in prize money. The FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Back where it all began in 1991 – the Women’s World Cup comes home to China four years after it was supposed to. In 2003, the SARS scare forced a venue change from China to the USA. No such misfortune this time around as Shanghai, Tianjin, Chengdu and Wuhan prepare to host the first ever Women’s World Cup with prize money. The $6.4m total may be nothing compared to the men’s game, perhaps, but is a big step forward in recognising the increasing seriousness and professionalism of the women’s game.

Next year’s Olympics in Beijing will garner more world attention, but the Olympics will always be successful. This Women’s World Cup is a real test. A real opportunity. With an accompanying UNICEF campaign, “Goals for Girls”, there is much to look forward to and much to aim for.

Let’s see how it goes.