Recap: More than Football Congress 2024
On Monday, 7 October 2024, the third edition of the More than Football Congress took place at Stadion Galgenwaard. For the first time, this year’s event was held in collaboration with the Coöperatie Eerste Divisie and the Azerion Women's Eredivisie. The organisers reflect on a successful day, where the societal power of football was discussed and highlighted.
ESPN presenter and moderator Aletha Leidelmeijer kicked off the day, followed by welcoming speeches from Jan de Jong (CEO Eredivisie), Marc Boele (CEO Keuken Kampioen Divisie), and Lucienne Reichardt (manager of women's football).
Erik Scherder captivated the audience with a presentation about the brain, particularly focusing on the importance of sports and physical activity for children. He highlighted that children who engage in (team) sports at a young age significantly reduce their chances of experiencing mental health issues later in life. Jan-Willem van der Roest then presented the impact statistics of professional football from the previous season.
Next, it was time for the panel discussion featuring Jan de Jong, Tom van 't Hek (chairman of the Dutch Sports Council), and Diana Kuip (sports journalist). Diana called on all clubs to proactively engage with the media and businesses, encouraging them to showcase the societal value of (professional) football. After the discussion, Thijs van Es, CEO of FC Utrecht, spoke about the collaboration between the club and the municipality.
Following this, breakout sessions commenced, where Nicole Bekkers delivered a presentation on how to activate social partnerships. Maikel Waardenburg, representing Utrecht University, conducted a workshop on different types of value creation in professional football clubs and how to facilitate cooperation despite existing tensions. Marion van der Geest discussed the power of neurocommunication, while Kevin Janssen and Mark Lauriks shared how Vitesse and the municipality of Arnhem are supporting youth development in Arnhem through their Community Champions programme, 'Vitesse United.'
The final segment featured a live broadcast of the Football is Life podcast hosted by Siem de Jong, Diana Kuip, and Daley Blind, with guest Kika van Es discussing her experiences as a role model. Spoken word artist Derek Otte concluded the day with a beautiful poem summarising the events of the entire day.
Read more
