The Spanish Danone Nations Cup

There is no doubt that there is real young talent in Spain. The participating children were treated to a grand opening ceremony. After the ceremony the draw was done in RCD Espanyol training grounds. All the team’s who’d qualified for the final round were then led to visit the club’s changing rooms, where some great footballers like Messi and Xavi had changed in a derby game shortly before the tournament was held.
 
The final competition gathered 10 teams from all over Spain, and to the home crowds delight was won by the local team, RCD Espanyol Barcelona. Unfortunately the winning team were not able to meet Andrés Iniesta, who is the Spain Danone Nations Cup Ambassador, because he was busy winning the Fifa World Cup in South Africa.

The Spain Danone Nations Cup in Spain is part of a bigger project called The Danone Sports Schools Project. This project is part of a non-governmental, non-profit organisation called “Sporting Association for better childhood”, the President is Rafael Jofresa Prats, a former Basketball player for the Spanish national side.

The project started in 2004 with 4 Danone Sports Schools, each with the ambition of promoting the importance of sporting activities for kids in their spare time, in order to change the social habits of today’s youth. These initial Schools were opened in Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla and Cáceres. In the second year of the project’s campaign, another 12 Schools were opened, bringing the total up to 16 Danone Sports Schools across all of Spain’s geographical regions.

Current and former soccer heroes soon caught onto the project and were given the opportunity to adopt a team and become their heroes, ambassadors and role models. The role models were carefully selected and they adopted teams in their own areas.

Each School is composed of at least 50 boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 12 years old. There are 4 age categories, and all children enjoy sporting activities, such as football, and educational sessions on nutrition and how to live a healthy lifestyle. During competitions against other regions, the kids are encouraged to share moments in and around sports with kids from other regions. A lot of emphasis is placed on having fun of course.

The program follows a double intention: first help meet the leisure time of youth sports and school support to encourage a healthy lifestyle, and at the same time help build the habits acquired in the school community.

The role models of the 16 Danone Sports Academies are: 1. Barcelona, Samuel Eto'o FC Barcelona.
2. CACERES, César Sánchez from Real Zaragoza CF player.
3. Madrid (Alcorcón), Jose Maria Gutierrez "Guti" Real Madrid and Carlos "Aguilera" former player of Atletico Madrid.
4. SEVILLE (B º of Bermejales), Jesús Capitán Prada "Capi" player of Real Betis Balompié and Antonio Ramírez Pérez "Antoñito" Jerez CF player
5. Madrid (Leganés), Gabriel Fernandez Arenas "Gabi" (Zaragoza player CF)
6. Madrid (Getafe), Esteban "Barn" (Getafe player)
7. Barcelona (Badalona), Pep Guardiola, "former international player of FC Barcelona
8. SEVILLE (Alcos), David "Rivas" CF Real Betis player.
9. LOGROÑO, Daniel "Aranzubia" player of the Athletic Club of Bilbao and the brothers García León, Gerardo, Moses, Candela and Eduardo.
10. Gijon, Enrique Castro "Quini, former international player of the Spanish team of Sporting Gijon and FC Barcelona.
11. CASTELLON, Diego Martín "Forlan, Atletico Madrid CF.
12. Murcia, Miguel Angel Ferrer "Mista" Atletico Madrid CF
13. ALBACETE, "Paul" Ibanez Atletico Madrid.
14. Estepona, Fernando "Iron", former Real Madrid player.
15. ZARAGOZA, Andoni "Cedrún" and José César "Lainez, former goalkeeper of Real Zaragoza.
16. SALAMANCA, Vicente "Del Bosque, former coach of Real Madrid.

Objectives of the Danone Sports Schools: • To promote the change of habits and attitudes, to promote social change.
• Facilitate access to quality sport outside the school community.
• Promote the acquisition of health habits and health.
• To promote the maturation and social adjustment of children.
• Encourage the development of children through physical improvement and competition.
• To promote interest in physical activity and youth associations
• Providing knowledge and expertise about the sport.
• Provide information on issues related to sport and physical activity.
• To encourage children personal responsibility in the running of the school and the acceptance of rules and commitments, building confidence in themselves.
• Encourage social relationships through group activities that promote the use of leisure time.
• Promote linkages between family and school, preventing essential bases and acquisition of healthy habits.
• Obtain appropriate relationships between children and their social environment.
• Increase the attendance rate at school and encourage enrolment in many cases nonexistent.