URGENT: IMF lifts Egypt's 2025 growth forecast to 4%    Gold prices rise slightly on July 29th    Egypt's FM urges UK to pressure Israel to stop Gaza war    H. Kong's trade volume jumps in June '25    Egypt's anti-drug body launches new awareness phase in Maspero Triangle    Minister El-Shimy pushes for stronger returns, partnerships in real estate, construction sectors    Apparel, textile chambers engage with Chinese delegation to explore investment opportunities in Egypt    Agiba Petroleum starts production from Arcadia-28 at 4,100 BOE/day    Egypt reviews health insurance funding mechanism to ensure long-term sustainability    Obama calls for aid access to Gaza, says 'no justification' for withholding food    Gaza on verge of famine as war escalates, ceasefire talks stall    Gaza crisis, trade on agenda as Trump hosts Starmer in Scotland    Egyptian president follows up on initiatives to counter extremist thought    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    Egypt will keep pushing for Gaza peace, aid: PM    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Sisi sends letter to Nigerian president affirming strategic ties    Egypt, Senegal sign pharma MoU to unify regulatory standards    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt foils terrorist plot, kills two militants linked to Hasm group    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Germany's footballers to send socio-political message at Confed Cup - Grindel
Published in Daily News Egypt on 14 - 06 - 2017

Doping, human rights and freedom of the press are among social issues in Russia highlighted by Reinhard Grindel. The president of the German football association also cast doubts on the future of the Confederations Cup.The president of the German football association (DFB), Reinhard Grindel, has said that his organization will embark upon a sporting-political mission at the Confederations Cup in Russia, which gets underway this Saturday.
The German national team players themselves are to be involved in "socio-political activities" placing issues such as doping, human rights, hooliganism and freedom of expression under the microscope.
"We want to use the power of football to develop partnerships among the civilian population," said DFB chief Grindel, who will meet the German ambassador in Russia and make a key note speech on the social responsibility of football. "It's not about the powerful elite having a good time; it's about normal people getting to know each other."
Significant social issues
Included in a range of planned activities are a match between German and Russian amateur teams, a match forming part of the World Blind Football Championship and a junior international.
Ahead of the World Cup in Russia next summer, Grindel also wants to clamp down on doping, saying he wants the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to carry out drugs tests. Russian athletes have come under intense scrutiny in recent years and Moscow's own anti-doping authorities are still banned following accusations of state-sponsored doping in the country.
Journalists and members of the media are also restricted in Russia, where most outlets are owned by state organizations such as Gazprom Media or by people with close ties to the Kremlin, and Grindel has repeated calls for foreign journalists to be granted unrestricted access during the World Cup.
"We want to make it quite clear that freedom of expression, freedom of the press and the right to assembly are things which even Russia has committed itself to," he said, requesting that journalists receive "accreditation comparable to that of a foreign affairs correspondent allowing them to report on anything from anywhere."
After hooliganism marred the 2016 European Championships in France, Grindel said the DFB will also be looking for the host country to send a clear message to the gangs of trained, organized thugs who terrorized English supporters in Marseille. "The atmosphere at the Confed Cup will determine whether or not our fans will travel to Russia," he said. "The images we saw in France give us good reason to worry."
The future of the tournament
As for the actual football, Grindel said he could "feel great excitement" among the German delegation ahead of Thursday's flight to Sochi, where head coach Joachim Löw's young squad will prepare for their opening game against Australia on Monday.
"You can tell that the squad are going about their work with a lot of enthusiasm and joy," he stated. "We're all looking forward to the tournament. We can see the sporting importance [of it]."
But Grindel nevertheless added that the future of the Confederations Cup could be in doubt due to the strain it puts on the players.
"The 2026 World Cup [which will feature 48 teams] will not be any longer as a tournament … but it still will have 16 more teams," Grindel told reporters. "Those (teams) also include players from the Bundesliga who will return back to their clubs late and not be fully fit."
mf/ (SID/Reuters)


Clic here to read the story from its source.