Children achieve great results!

12 November 2013

Poznan will soon become a capital of handball for the youngest children because the 5th edition of Volkswagen Poznan Mini Handball is about to start. Games, under the patronage of the Wielkopolska Handball Association and a multi-time national handball representative - Artur Siódmak, constitute a great celebration of this sport both for the participants as well as fans of handball. So far over 850 children took part in the games.

Inauguration of Volkswagen Poznan Mini Handball will take place this Thursday, November 14, in Primary School No. 85 in Poznan. Artur Siódmiak, whose famous throw during the match against Norway at the Handball World Cup 2009 made Polish handball history, will be one of guests invited to the event. He was chosen as the event ambassador for the fourth time.

- “Participation in a tournament provides children with the possibility to develop their sports and intellectual skills. It stimulates creative thinking, teaches competitiveness, working in a group and realization of certain goals and most importantly, it promotes healthy lifestyle” - Siódmiak justifies his engagement in the project. – “It is great that such companies as Volkswagen Poznan support handball”.

Competitors of Volkswagen Poznan Mini Handball tournament are divided into teams consisting of 15 third-grade primary school pupils that play matches within previously defined groups (Wilda, Antoninek, Swarzedz). The teams will compete for the participation in the grand finale planned to take place towards the end of the school year. The jubilee edition of the tournament will be unique.

- “This year the total number of programme participants will exceed 1000. The high level of participation and engagement of young players make us proud” - says Michael Kleiss, the President of Volkswagen Poznan. – “Interest in the tournament proves that there is a strong demand for such initiatives in the Poznan area. Therefore, within the framework of CSR activities we would like to support education of the youngest not only in ecology but also in sports”.

The programme allows children to develop their skills and passion for handball. After the tournament they can continue their handball adventure in the Handball Academy - series of free of charge trainings conducted by female players of AZS AWF Volkswagen Poznan. Graduates of the Academy join youth sports clubs. Therefore, for the youngest, Mini Handball constitutes the first step towards achieving their dreams. The programme promotes handball and shows an interesting way of spending one’s free time.

- “I am sure that the whole project will increase the popularity of handball among young people and will provide everyone with unforgettable emotions” - says Marek Werle, the President of Wielkopolska Handball Association - a patron of the event.

A total number of 114 matches will be played at 22 local tournaments organized under the Volkswagen Poznan Mini Handball initiative. Last year, young handball players from Primary School No. 5 in Poznan proved to be unrivalled. Who will be this year's winner? That is what we are going to find out at the turn of May and June 2014, during the Great Finale of the programme's 5th edition.

More information on the programme may be found at www.minihandball.pl