A football festival of inclusion took place on Graz’s main square. The Coca Cola Unified Cup celebrated 30 years of the Special Olympics in Austria and 20 years of the Homeless World Cup, both movements have their roots in Styria. ÖBF President Klaus Mitterdorfer and State Councilor Doris Kampus gave the honorary kick.
STYRIA. At the start of the Coca Cola Unified Cup, ÖFB President Klaus Mitterdorfer and State Councilor Doris Kampus gave the honorary kick-off at Graz’s main square. Special Olympics national director Nicole Koch, Homeless World Cup team boss Gilbert Prilasnig and former ÖFB team players Jasmin Eder and Michael Liendl were also there.
Football connects
The Coca Cola Unified Cup stands for diversity, inclusion and togetherness. This is also what the two organizations Special Olympics Austria and Homeless World Cup stand for, which are celebrating their 30th and 20th anniversaries this year. Therefore, the second edition of the Coca Cola Unified Cup was all about these outstanding movements. The mode of the cup is quickly explained: players of all ages and genders, from the Special Olympics and the Homeless World Cup, formed teams and competed against each other both on the street soccer court and on the console. After the first half on the court, it went to the Playstation and the two results were added to the final result. At the start were 1. FC Prototyp, KSV Tatascom, FC Mario Haas, Sarah Puntigam, David Alaba, FC Gilbert Prilasnig, Team Ivica Osim and Thierry Henry.
ÖFB President Klaus Mitterdorfer was enthusiastic about the Unified Cup: “The initiative is great, the ÖFB is happy to support it because it simply shows the diversity in football. Men, women, people with and without disabilities, young and old people find a home in sport, are respected and valued.” The Styrian State Councilor for Social Affairs, Doris Kampus, is also impressed by this competition. “Special Olympics and Homeless World Cup have their origins in Styria, it couldn’t be more beautiful.”
Virtual and real
Gilbert Prilasnig, team leader of the Austrian Homeless World Cup team, explains how the joint football weekend came about. “We have had a long partnership with Coca Cola. This is where the idea of merging the Unified Cup with our tournament was born.” While “Gilli” looks back on a storm career, Michael Liendl has cult status at GAK. But football doesn’t separate. “Football brings people together, you can see that very impressively today. This is a great event, especially because it also has a little bit of cage kicking in it,” said Liendl.
Among the teams there were also repeat offenders who had already taken part in the first edition of the cup in Vienna last year. “We thought it was really cool and had a lot of fun, which is why we’re taking part again this year. Football connects and strengthens team spirit,” says Melissa Pargan from Team Ivica Osim, who can get a lot out of the combination mode. “I like real football better because I’m not that familiar with the console. But I think it’s cool that there’s also the option to see all variations of football, virtual and real.” The cup runs until Sunday afternoon.
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2023-10-15 16:57:13
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