Europeada - The other EM: National minorities play in the north
In Schleswig, the Football-European Championship for national minorities, known as Europeada, was opened on a Saturday. "We are delighted that our second Football-EM officially begins after the UEFA-European Championship has been running for two weeks", said Minister-President Daniel Günther at the opening ceremony.
The Danish minority, the Frisian ethnic group, German Sinti and Roma, and the German minority in North Schleswig are the hosts. Schleswig-Holstein is proud to be a co-host of the Europeada along with the South Denmark region. Sport brings people peacefully together from all over the world. "Sports create encounters, where people exchange and experience diversity", Günther added. These moments and experiences are important for good coexistence in Europe.
The first games of the Football-European Championship for so-called indigenous national minorities will kick off on Sunday at 11:00 am. The Europeada is being held for the 5th time. According to the organizers, 24 men's and 9 women's teams from 24 minorities in 13 countries are participating. In total, there will be 74 games. The medals are made of plastic collected in the German-Danish border region.
In Schleswig-Holstein, games will be played in Flensburg, Harrislee, Schleswig, Eckernförde, Tönning, Bredstedt, Niebüll, and Risum-Lindholm until July 7. In Denmark, games will be played in Apenrade, Krusau, Sonderburg, and Tondern.
According to the minority political spokesperson of the SPD fraction, Birte Pauls, the Europeada is much more than just a football tournament. "It is a platform for intercultural encounter and exchange." The participants promote awareness and respect for cultural diversity in Europe. "Minorities use the unifying power of sports to build bridges between different cultures and communities."
The Federal Union of European Nationalities, the largest umbrella organization of indigenous national minorities, nationalities, and language groups in Europe, is the founder and coordinator of the tournament. The Europeada has been taking place every four years since 2008, usually in the same year as the Football-European Championship.
- The Frisian ethnic group, being a part of the Danish minority, is excited to host the Football-European Championship along with other minorities such as the German Sinti and Roma in Schleswig-Holstein.
- Europeadha, known as the Football-European Championship for national minorities, showcases the spirit of sports and unity, bringing together teams from various countries like Denmark and Germany for a week-long event.
- Daniel Günther, the Minister-President of Schleswig-Holstein, expressed his delight at co-hosting the Europeada with the South Denmark region, highlighting the power of sports to foster peace and diversity.
- At the UEFA-European Championship, which took place two weeks prior, several teams honed their skills and strategies, preparing for the upcoming Europeada in Schleswig-Holstein.
- Sinti and Roma communities, along with other indigenous national minorities in Europe, will participate in the 5th edition of the European Football Championship, showcasing their passion for soccer and promoting cultural exchange.
- The Europeada not only serves as a significant sports event but also functions as a platform for intercultural encounters and dialogues, encouraging awareness and respect for cultural diversity across Europe.
- In Southern Denmark, towns like Apenrade, Krusau, Sonderburg, and Tondern, will join forces with regions in Schleswig-Holstein, including Flensburg, Harrislee, Schleswig, Eckernförde, Tönning, Bredstedt, Niebüll, and Risum-Lindholm, to host a series of numerous soccer matches during the Europeada, fostering a spirit of unity and sharing across European societies.
