In the lead-up to the UEFA Euro 2024 – the world’s third biggest sporting event – we’ll be speaking to football-passionate Special Olympics athletes and coaches across Germany who are volunteering at the tournament. Emilio, Minga and Steffi are among the volunteers in Hamburg.
Emilio, 21, has been competing in judo and track and field at Special Olympics since 2018, but next June he will turn his attention to soccer. His role will include checking tickets at the Volksparkstadion Hamburg. He is keen to meet football fans from all over Europe. Although he doesn’t expect to see any games through his volunteer work, he will be lucky enough to watch some soccer games in his free time. “I was lucky and won tickets for the semi-final and final in the official UEFA ticket lottery!” says Emilio. He is very much looking forward to watching matches between Spain (where he was born), Germany (where he lives) and Poland, but he is confident that Spain will win the tournament!
Meanwhile, Manja, who is competing in… Triathlon, swimming And Dance With Special Olympics, she expects host Germany to win, and is excited to see Thomas Mueller lead them to victory. Minga, a 19-year-old who has participated in Special Olympics for the past two years, will work alongside Emilio and Stevie as a ticket volunteer at the Volkspark Arena. “I’m really looking forward to booking tickets and helping out,” she says.
Stevie, a Special Olympics coach for over 20 years, completes this trio of passionate volunteers. Like Emilio, she is excited to meet fans from all over Europe as she checks their tickets and helps them find their way. Steffi is not sure who will achieve victory, “There are many good teams… France, Spain, maybe Germany… who knows!” No matter who wins, she appreciates her participation in this amazing football tournament. To add to the excitement, you’ll be celebrating a very special birthday at the first match in Hamburg!
EURO 2024 GmbH said that the inspiration for the tandem volunteer initiative involving Emilio, Minga and Steffi came during the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023. The Berlin 2023 Host City programme, which welcomed athletes at 200 sites across Germany, was the largest community inclusion project in the history of Germany, motivating the Euro 2024 organizers to follow this example of inclusivity.
