01.06.2017

Balon Mundial Football Communities comes to an end

A total of 400 players took part in a new tournament that proposed a new model of inclusion for refugees and migrant communities living in Turin, Italy, through football.

Football Communities was organised by Fare member Balon Mundial and consists of a football tournament that ran throughout six Sundays in April and May.

It involved 16 social centres for asylum seekers, refugees and migrants in Turin, using football to: reduce the marginalisation and discrimination towards migrants and refugees; create a new space that promotes a social and cultural exchange through football; increase the number of opportunities for refugees; increase the number of social events for refugees and strengthen links with the local and migrant communities; promote sport as a tool for well-being, education and citizenship; and, help change a negative perception on refugees across the media.

The group stage of the tournament kicked-off on Sunday 30 April and ended on 14 May, the final took place on 28 May and was won by Terremondo, a team of refugees and asylum seekers.

The winner secured a spot to contest this year's Balon Mundial Cup, an annual tournament that brings together over 1000 participants from migrant and refugees backgrounds, and locals, to play football and socialise.

Following the tournament, a network will be created as part of Football Communities to help prepare and integrate refugees and asylum seekers into the hosting society.

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