ARCHIVED - October 20-23 Mazarron to host Futsal Eurocopa 2022 for people with dwarfism
ARCHIVED ARTICLE -
Next weekend, Mazarrón will host the 1st European Cup of Fútbol for little people
Between October 20 and 23, 2022, the I European Cup of Futsal for Little People (I Copa de Europa de Fútbol sala de Talla Baja) will be played in Mazarrón.
Futsal, known in Spanish as ‘Fútbol Sala’ is a five-a-side match of football played on a harder court than a normal soccer pitch, usually indoors. This year will be the first year ever that people with Dwarfism will have their own European Futsal competition.
Participants in the tournament will include the national teams of Spain, France, Germany and England, as well as Egypt and Argentina – champions of the Africa Cup and America Cup, respectively, who will attend as guests.
Mazarrón’s Director General of Sports, Francisco Javier Sánchez, hosted the presentation of this tournament recently, and said, “The Region of Murcia occupies a preferential place for the celebration of national and international sporting events, as demonstrated on this occasion by this championship, which is taking place in Europe for the first time.”
For his part, the mayor of Mazarrón Gaspar Miras, said “It is important to hold this event in our municipality, as it positions us as hosts of inclusive sport and we set a precedent as it is the first time it is held. For us it is a pride that the first Indoor Football Cup for Little People is held in Mazarrón supporting the full inclusion in the sporting world and at the same time helping to bring tourism to the town out of the high season.”
Conchita Ruiz, Director General for People with Disabilities, explained that “the main objective of this event is to promote inclusion through sport, which is a key element in favouring a change of attitude in society.”
Together with the general directors, the president of the Football Federation of the Region of Murcia, José Miguel Monje, and the president of the National Association for Growth Problems (CRECER), Susana Sempere, the organiser of the championship, attended the presentation of the competition and the draw for the pairings.
Group A will consist of England, France and Egypt, and Group B will be Spain, Germany and Argentina, with the top two teams from each Group progressing to the Semi-finals.
Images 1-3: Ayuntamiento de Mazarrón
Image 4: Equipo Español de Talla Baja / Twitter