The final of the biggest in Europe children’s futsal competition “1,000 Teams Tournament” took place in Kharkiv. 17 teams of boys and girls aged 10-12 contended for the victim in the Karazinskyi sports complex. The competition was held under the patronage of the International Charitable Foundation “Oleksandr Feldman Foundation.”
“When we started to hold the 1,000 Teams Tournament, our aim was to provide children with an alternative to aimless and sometimes even dangerous pastime on the streets. Moreover, we wanted to help children to reveal their sports talents, to make their first steps in football career,” the founder of the competition and Ukrainian MP, Oleksandr Feldman told. “During 15 years of existence of these competitions, over a million children took part in them. The Tournament never ends: the next one starts at once – it is the essence of it and the uniqueness for each child. The new stage of the Tournament starts on September 1. That is why, everyone, who had no time to submit an entry form for this season, will be able to participate in the next one. We invite all teams to take part in it!”
In the tense and fair struggle, the victory in the 1,000 Teams Tournament was got by the team from Kupiansk (among boys) and Krasnohrad (among girls). The second places were taken by Krasnohrad team of boys and Borova region girls. The third place was taken by the team of boys from Lozova region, and the team of girls from Shevchenkovo region.
On behalf of the head of the Kharkiv State Regional Administration Ihor Rainin, the young footballers were congratulated by the deputy director of the Department for youth and sports under the Administration Serhii Khrystoiev.
“These competitions have already became the hallmark of Kharkiv oblast. The tournament is known both in our country, and abroad. Of course, it is necessary to have it and to continue it holding,” Mr. Khrystoiev said.
In addition to traditional cups, medals and diplomas, the winners of the1,000 Teams Tournament will have additional prize from International Charitable Foundation “Oleksandr Feldman Foundation”: during their summer holidays they will have excursion trips. The team, which has taken the third place in the competition will have a trip to Lviv, the second place – Warsaw, and the champions will go to the football’s homeland – London.
“The fierce sports ‘fights’ could be envied by the audience of the Premier League, and the devotion and passion of their young participants – by the adult, professional footballers,” the chief referee of the competitions, the futsal national referee Yurii Volozhenko noted.
It should be reminded that the1,000 Teams Tournament is held upon an initiative of Ukrainian MP, Oleksandr Feldman since 2001. This is the first in Ukraine large-scale project directed at the revival of sport for children and young people. Near 1 million schoolchildren took part in it during the time of its existence. The competition started the long-term charitable program of the ICF “Oleksandr Feldman Foundation” titled “Take children away from the streets.” The patron plans to make the Tournament an international competition soon. Young footballers from Germany, Poland, Israel and other countries have already expressed readiness to take part in it.
