Graduates with the Programme Team and Joyce Cook CBE, OBE
FIFA article on the 2019 and 2021 FFALP Class Graduation with Remarks from Joyce Cook CBE, OBE, a Programme ambassador, and FIFA Senior Advisor.
Joyce told the participants: “Being here with you is deeply personal to me for so many reasons, and being able to celebrate your achievements with you gives me a huge feeling of hope, pride and excitement.
It is crucial that disabled people have full access to take their rightful places as administrators, leaders and decision makers. If we ensure disabled people are not only able to enjoy but also, more frequently contribute to the game, the game will without doubt improve. We will see better governance, resiliency, innovation, and growth.
Of course, I say this with an understanding that accountability lies with all of us, and this should be a call for action for everyone present in this room. We all have a responsibility on this topic and we can all be key actors, in order to turn football into a more inclusive space, where everyone can live their dreams.”
In addition, there was a Roundtable on the topic of “Disability as an Opportunity to Grow Football” with speakers Louis Lunts (adamandeveDDB) and Samir Singh Nathoo (Arsenal in the Community) with Joanna Deagle (CAFE-Centre for Access to Football in Europe) moderating.
The Ceremony took place on July 1, at the Emirates Stadium in London, in Partnership with Arsenal and Arsenal in the Community.