With the 3rd/4th play-off and final taking place at Honiara’s Lawson Tama Stadium on Sunday, players and officials stood together to recognise ‘Just Play’ – a unique FIFA-approved grassroots initiative that promotes physical activity while encouraging healthy living.
Just Play has been the key social responsibility message for the tournament with children taking part in half-time activities during selected matches.
OFC General Secretary Tai Nicholas says Solomon Islands has been one of the success stories of Just Play.
“The programme is not only helping thousands of youngsters to get involved in sport but it is also raising awareness about social issues and promoting gender equality, peace building and community development,” says Nicholas.
“With the support Just Play receives from Solomon Islands Football Federation and local partners, this country epitomises how the power of sport can be used to build better communities across the Pacific.”
After the launch of Just Play in Tonga in 2009, OFC continues to work closely with UEFA, the Government of Australia — through its agencies the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) — and Football Federation Australia to roll out the Just Play programme within the region.
Led by OFC Head of Social Responsibility Franck Castillo, the initiative is targeted at primary-aged children and is based around structured activity programmes as well as the distribution of equipment packs containing balls, cones, bibs, activity manuals and other resources that enable children to play football at anytime and in any situation.
Just Play has helped to train over 2,000 teachers and volunteers while encouraging around 85,000 children to get involved in football across American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Tonga and Vanuatu.
OFC works in partnership with the member association, department of education and local community leaders in each country to ensure the successful implementation of Just Play.
The Confederation has also teamed up with Special Olympics in New Zealand to design a Just Play programme for people with mental disabilities with similar initiatives launching in Fiji and Samoa.
Prior to today’s 3rd/4th play-off, the national teams of New Zealand and Solomon Islands stood together with a Just Play banner to raise awareness of grassroots football in Oceania.