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Press Call: Press are invited to attend Wigan’s World Cup at 9.30am on
Friday 7th July at Robin Park Arena. Contact Chris Dunbar – 01942
486937.
The stage is set…
Teams representing nations from across the globe in a tournament to
celebrate unity, friendship and the beautiful game. But forget about
Berlin, because this year’s World Cup is a little closer to home for
children and young people across the borough.
Wigan’s own World Cup tournament takes place at Robin Park Arena on
Friday July 7 when teams of Year 9 and 10 pupils from schools across the
borough will not only be given the chance to show off their silky skills
but to make a stand against racism at the same time. And there will even
be a replica of the legendary Jules Rimet Trophy to hand out to the
winners.
The spectacular sporting event has been made possible through a real
team effort from Wigan Council, Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust (WLCT),
JJB and Wigan Athletic’s Big Blue Bus. The event forms part of the
larger Kick Racism Out Of Football project which has run successfully in
Wigan for the past four years. In the weeks leading up to the tournament
schools across the borough have been taking part in special anti-racism
workshops put together by Wigan Children & Young People’s Services
Equality and Diversity Officer Pete Coulson. Pupils have also been
taking full advantage of the superb facilities provided by Wigan
Athletic’s Media Bus to explore the anti-racism theme further.
Wigan Athletic’s Community Manager Laura Sherratt says: “The Big Blue
Bus has been going around the schools giving information about the
initiatives within the Premiership for getting rid of racism. We have
been working with the children on radio programmes and pod casts on the
anti-racism theme and the standard of these has been excellent.”
WLCT’s Sports Development Unit will also be providing specialist
coaching sessions after the event to train young people to become junior
football coaches.
Sports Development Officer David Bradley, says, “Wigan Sports
Development Unit has had an active role in the organisation of the
tournament. With the expertise that the unit provides the day is certain
to be fun and successful. The staff from the unit will utilise their
expertise in delivering a top class event programme and tournament
management, as well as this ensuring that those who participate in the
tournament will also have the opportunity to gain a Junior football
Organisers’ qualification early next term"
While JJB Sports is supporting the event by providing football kits for
the children. On the day of the tournament the individual teams will
each represent one of the nations taking part in the World Cup. As well
as receiving their very own World Cup, the winners will be awarded with
coaching equipment for their school. There will also be a Player of the
Tournament and Top Scorer prize.
WLCT’s Community Regeneration Manager John Hesketh, who has helped to
organise the World Cup and the ongoing Kick Racism Out Of Football
campaign, says a number of important messages lie at the heart of the
competition.
“The Kick Racism Out Of Football campaign aims to promote cultural
awareness and encourage children and young people to think about the
differences we all share in positive ways,” says John. “We aim to do
this by providing fun opportunities for people from a variety of
backgrounds to come together and participate in creative, educational
sports-orientated activities.”
The event has been funded through the Township Community Safety Groups
convened by Wigan Council’s Community Protection Department. The idea
came from a suggestion by Wigan Council’s Cabinet Member for Community
Engagement Cllr Chris Ready.
Life-long ‘Latics fan Cllr Ready will be one of the many spectators
cheering the teams along on the day. “Football really is the beautiful
game but sadly the ugly spectre of racism still exists within it and
within society,” says Cllr Ready. “Each of us must do all we can to
counter the views of the hate-mongers and extremist at every turn and to
send out a clear message that their twisted ideals and distasteful views
have no place in a civilised community such as ours.”
Cllr Ready adds, “It is particularly important that we protect our
children from racism and show them that the only way we will prosper is
through unity and understanding. Children love football and the Wigan
World Cup is a brilliant opportunity to get our message across. I think
we are going to see an event that will change hearts and minds and some
great football at the same time.”
-ends-
NOTES TO EDITORS: For further information on this News Release please
contact Chris Dunbar, Public Relations Officer, Wigan Leisure and
Culture Trust on 01942 486937 or at c.dunbar@wlct.org. Alternatively
contact Wigan Council’s Community Safety Officer Gary Pilling on 01942
404641 or Phil Green at Wigan Council’s Press Office on 01942 827369.
Kick It Out: The National Kick It Out campaign was started by the
Commission for Racial Equality and Professional Footballers' Association
in 1993 to challenge and eradicate racism from all areas and at all
levels of the game. Supported by the game's governing bodies,
supporters' organisations and local authorities, it works to challenge
racism at all levels of the game. Locally, Wigan Leisure and Culture
Trust have worked with partners (including Greater Manchester Police,
Groundwork Wigan & Chorley, Positive Futures, Wigan Athletic, Wigan and
Leigh United Against Racism, Wigan Council, Wigan Schools FA and Wigan
Warriors) over the last four years to engage local children, young
people and adults in learning about racism within and beyond sport, and
convey the importance of a zero tolerance stand against racism in our
increasingly multicultural borough. Through events and activity we have
helped grow cultural awareness, appeal to and involve people from a
variety of ethnic groups in creative, mental and physical activity
together, helping broker new relationships and grow a common sense of
belonging and mutual support in-keeping with wider strategic works on
community cohesion.
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust: Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust is a
charitable trust working on behalf of Wigan Council to manage and
support leisure and cultural facilities, initiatives and events for over
300,000 residents in the Wigan Borough. See
www.wlct.org.
Getting Wigan Active: Getting Wigan Active is Wigan Leisure and Culture
Trust’s vision to ensure that people across the Wigan Borough have the
opportunity to become more physically, mentally and creatively active.
It also aims to increase community activity and to encourage good
citizenship.
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