TimBhoy
29 Oct 2005, 06:10 PM
Nice to see all the various initiatives being recognised,
CELTIC’S social role in the community has received a ringing endorsement from the European Parliament. Belgian MEP Ivo Belet visited Glasgow this week as part of a study group looking at football and whether the sport has a social responsibility as well as an economic role to play.
And having seen the work the club is doing, for example through the Celtic Education project in conjunction with Glasgow City Council, as well as looking at the work of the Celtic Charity Fund, the Euro politician was in no doubt that the Celtic example is one other clubs throughout Europe should follow.
Mr Belet told the Celtic website: “There were two reasons for coming over here. One was to do with the European Parliament, which is looking at football and whether its role should be just economic or should there be a social dimension to it as well.
“The study trip to Glasgow was good in that we were able to see in Celtic an example of football playing a social role in the community.
“The other reason was to look at Celtic and see how what they are doing could be applied to Belgian teams, and certainly, the Celtic example is one that should be followed.
“People in Belgium are already very well aware of Celtic and its supporters, and the fact that both UEFA and FIFA made special awards to the fans.
“And Celtic have been very successful in fulfilling their social obligations.”
There are already strong links between Celtic and Belgian football. The Belgian FA actually modelled its own Social Charter on Celtic’s Charter and Mission statement, with Martin O’Neill accepting a copy of this at the time prior to the Champions League match against Anderlecht in Brussels.
And the Belgian FA have continued to promote Celtic as an excellent example of a community club.
Mr Belet will be making a presentation in February 2006 on the social role of football and how important it is to a community and society. And his trip to see what Celtic are doing will certainly play a central role in his presentation.
CELTIC’S social role in the community has received a ringing endorsement from the European Parliament. Belgian MEP Ivo Belet visited Glasgow this week as part of a study group looking at football and whether the sport has a social responsibility as well as an economic role to play.
And having seen the work the club is doing, for example through the Celtic Education project in conjunction with Glasgow City Council, as well as looking at the work of the Celtic Charity Fund, the Euro politician was in no doubt that the Celtic example is one other clubs throughout Europe should follow.
Mr Belet told the Celtic website: “There were two reasons for coming over here. One was to do with the European Parliament, which is looking at football and whether its role should be just economic or should there be a social dimension to it as well.
“The study trip to Glasgow was good in that we were able to see in Celtic an example of football playing a social role in the community.
“The other reason was to look at Celtic and see how what they are doing could be applied to Belgian teams, and certainly, the Celtic example is one that should be followed.
“People in Belgium are already very well aware of Celtic and its supporters, and the fact that both UEFA and FIFA made special awards to the fans.
“And Celtic have been very successful in fulfilling their social obligations.”
There are already strong links between Celtic and Belgian football. The Belgian FA actually modelled its own Social Charter on Celtic’s Charter and Mission statement, with Martin O’Neill accepting a copy of this at the time prior to the Champions League match against Anderlecht in Brussels.
And the Belgian FA have continued to promote Celtic as an excellent example of a community club.
Mr Belet will be making a presentation in February 2006 on the social role of football and how important it is to a community and society. And his trip to see what Celtic are doing will certainly play a central role in his presentation.