GNK Dinamo DAO presentation at Russian Football Union and Football Federation of Ukraine -

GNK Dinamo was invited by the CAFE, The Centre for Access to Football in Europe – official partner of UEFA, to join three workshops about access and inclusion for disabled supporters. Seminars/workshops were held in the Russian Football Union, Moscow, and in the Football Federation of Ukraine, Kiev 7 – 10 of February.

CAFE is an organization created with the aim of ensuring that disabled supporters in all of UEFA’s national associations are able to attend football matches and enjoy a fully inclusive, problem-free experience. It is important to mention that CAFE is UEFA’s corporate social responsibility partner.

With support from UEFA, CAFE raises awareness and shares best practice examples with clubs, leagues and national associations across Europe.

UEFA and CAFE took another step forward ensuring that access and inclusion for disabled people are integrated into every level of football with the introduction of a new club licensing criterion in the 2015 edition of the UEFA Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play Regulations. Article 35bis requires clubs to appoint a disability access officer (DAO) who is responsible for improving access for disabled people.

In 2015 GNK Dinamo appointed me as a DAO so since then I am in charge of all questions about making stadium and matches accessible to disabled supporters. Also, my job is organizing campaigns and activities with disabled fans, both matchday and non-matchday activities.

In order to educate as much as possible clubs and associations around the world, CAFE and UEFA organized workshops and seminars in Russia and Ukraine. GNK Dinamo was invited to participate as a presenter with some good examples of DAO role and experience about accessiblity and inclusion.

The presentation named ”DAO role and activities” was held in Russian Football Union (Moscow) – the first day in the RFU meeting room and the second day at the Spartak Moscow stadium, while the third one was held in the Football Federation of Ukraine (Kiev).

CLICK HERE FOR DISABILITY ACCESS OFFICER HANDBOOK

Some of participants at RFU: To be published…

Some of participant at FFU:

Yuriy ZAPISOTSKYI, FFU General Secretary

Valeriy SUSHKEVYCH, Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for the Rights of Disabled Persons

Yuriy TYTARENKO, Director on operational activities of the FFU, Vice-president of the Association of Football for Disabled People of Ukraine

Esther RUSSELL, Eastern European Development Officer in Centre for Access to Football (CAFE)

Liza STEPANIUK, DAO for the FFU, Special projects manager in the Football strategic development department, FFU

Iva CIGROVSKIJ, DAO for GNK “Dinamo” Zagreb, Croatia, New Media Expert

As well as many other association and organization representatives from Ukraines and SLOs (suporters liaison officers) and DAOs (Dynamo Kiev, Olimpic Donetsk, Zorya Luhansk, Vorskla Poltava, Metalurg, Oleksandria, Shakhtar Donetsk)