The charitable organisations network streetfootballworld co-ordinates a newly launched initiative to help improve health awareness in Poland and the Ukraine ahead of next summer’s UEFA Euro 2012 championships.

RESPECT your Health initiative launched. Photo Copyright streetfootballworld

The official community health education programme is named RESPECT your Health – Euroschools 2012 and follows a commission by the European football governing body as part of its RESPECT campaign.

The project will promote healthy lifestyles in the two host nations with a focus on smoking prevention, healthy diet, moderation in alcohol consumption, and encouraging physical activity among young people and their parents. Activities in schools, youth centres and sport clubs have already begun.

A specially designed manual will guide coaches and teachers on how to use the power of football and other sports to engage communities, increase health literacy levels, and establish a common feeling of ownership for community sports grounds. RESPECT your Health will be implemented by a wide range of organisations including Volunteers for Sport, PL.2012 and the School Sports Association in Poland as well as the Football Federation of Ukraine and Open Fun Football Schools.

The World Heart Federation, the European Healthy Stadia Network and Muuvit are also pushing the campaign with an international perspective.

Based on a ‘train the trainers’ approach, schools, NGOs and local coaches in the eight Euro 2012 host cities combine sport sessions with health education.

“We’re very pleased to be contributing to health awareness in Poland and Ukraine with RESPECT your Health,” said streetfootballworld CEO Jürgen Griesbeck.

“Events such as the Euro 2012 capture the imaginations of millions and are ideal opportunities for triggering long-term, sustainable change. After the success of Euroschools 2008 we are very excited to once again join UEFA in seizing the potential of the upcoming European Football Championship.”

RESPECT your Health – Euroschools 2012 is the third official social legacy programme that streetfootballworld has organised for a major football event.

In 2008, streetfootballworld ran Euroschools 2008, an education programme, and in 2010 streetfootballworld partnered with FIFA for 20 Centres for 2010, the official campaign of the FIFA World Cup 2010.