UEFA backs hometown sport
Monday 3 November 2008
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UEFA hosted last week's Foundation for the Development of Sport in Nyon awards (©UEFA)
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While governing the affairs of European football, UEFA also keeps a keen eye on what is happening on the sports scene in its home town of Nyon in western Switzerland and gives vital financial support to help sports concerns in the town.
Since 1995
UEFA has been based in Nyon, situated around 16km from Geneva, since 1995 when it moved from the Swiss federal capital Berne. The European governing body was first housed in temporary premises before moving to its own headquarters, the newly-constructed House of European Football, in the autumn of 1999.
UEFA backing
Following its move, UEFA has given substantial backing to the development of sport in Nyon. This led to the creation in early 2000 of the Foundation for the Development of Sport in Nyon. The body's administrative board comprises the Nyon town mayor, the municipal official responsible for sport, and a member appointed by UEFA.
Encouraging young people
Its aims include encouraging young people to practice a sport, by giving subsidies to Nyon sports bodies or individuals to set up and develop education and training programmes for youngsters. Another key objective is the improvement of Nyon's sports facilities.
Sports projects
This year, the foundation has given its financial support to a variety of sports projects in Nyon. The Nyon Triathlon is a popular event each year, and the 2008 event saw some 450 children take part in the 'Trikids' event. The foundation's backing will allow for the waiving of fees for youngsters to take part. Nyon Vélo Club's challenge is to organise the Swiss Cycling Championships, both the road-racing and individual time-trials, in June 2009. The foundation is contributing to the prizes in the various categories for young cyclists.
Winter Olympic hope
New shirts in the club colours will be purchased for the Club d'Ultimate, which brings together Frisbee enthusiasts, while Nyon Ski Club member Jonathan Gentet, 16, is being given help with equipment and training with a view to participating in the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Valuable backing
Ellen Sprunger, 22, first received support from the foundation in 2004. Now, this talented heptathlon competitor is being given backing to help her in her drive to take part in the 2012 summer Olympic Games in London. Swimmer Barnabé Charmey, aged 15 and a member of the Cercle des Nageurs de Nyon, is another potential 2012 Nyon Olympian who is currently in Calgary, Canada for a one-year training and competition stint, and he is benefitting from the foundation's valuable backing.
EURO role
Emilie Amaron, 18, from the Nyon Judo Team, has won a host of competitions and recently took part in the Bangkok world championships. She is another local sportswoman aiming for 2012 Olympic games participation. And ending on football matters, Nyon took a full role in this summer's UEFA EURO 2008™ football festival in Austria and Switzerland, staging public viewing events and welcoming supporters. The foundation's contribution has been to help bolster the town's infrastructures to cater for the EURO fans.
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