Netherlands and Arsenal star Vivianne Miedema has opened her own Cruyff Court on a renovated pitch in her home town of Hoogeveen.
The original Cruyff Court had been there since 2006 and has been used intensively by children from the neighbourhood. It was therefore time to renovate the pitch. After the renovation, it was the wish of the local residents to name the Cruyff Court after Vivianne Miedema, and with the opening of the court that wish came true.
Miedema said: “This is fantastic, my own Cruyff Court. Sometimes you don’t realise how important a place like this is for kids to be able to play football together. And the fact that it can bear my name here in Hoogeveen makes me proud.
“I hope it will be used to its full potential. I’ll ask my parents to regularly check it out,” Miedema joked afterwards.
And what better way to open the Cruyff Court than with a game of football? Enthusiastic children competing against each other in a football tournament, organised by community coaches.
Every week, the community coaches of the Municipality of Hoogeveen come to the Cruyff Court and organise activities to get the children in the area moving. This is very important, because children and youngsters need to be encouraged to play sports. Besides the health aspect, sport also stimulates personal development, self-confidence and friendships.
The power of sport
Vivianne believes in the power of sport. Every child, no matter where in the world, should have the right to play sport, also in war zones. That’s why she has been committed as an ambassador for War Child for years.
Cruyff Courts
There are almost 300 Cruyff Courts across more than 20 countries throughout the world, including 20 in the UK, that offer young people a safe place in which to play and are designed to encourage participation in a range of sports, as well as providing a space where young people are able to learn about respect, responsibility and integration.
Cruyff Courts are pioneered by the Johan Cruyff Foundation to provide children with a safe space in which to practise sports and play. Please find further information via www.cruyff-foundation.org
