The Cruyff Foundation
THROUGH HIS TESTIMONIAL, DENNIS IS SUPPORTING THE CRUYFF FOUNDATI
Fellow Dutch legend Johan Cruyff founded the Johan Cruyff Foundation
nine years ago - Dennis has chosen the organisation as one of his four
charities to benefit from his Testimonial.
You don't always think of it but, if you have the opportunity to do something for another,
then you must do it". Johan Cruyff
VOOR
GOEDE DOELEN
Cruyff recognises the many
similarities between sport and
society and believes that it is the
responsibility of each and every one
to ensure that the weakest link is as
strong as possible. Therefore in
1997 he founded the Johan Cruyff
Foundation to support and stimulate
sports and games for children
worldwide giving special attention
to children with a handicap.
As stated in the UN Convention on
the Rights of the Child, children
have the right to sport and
recreation. We (the Cruyff
Foundation) believe children build
up social skills, learn how to win,
lose and develop tactics and
strategy, through participating in
sports and games.
As a result of this children develop
self-confidence and a sense of
achievement, but primarily children
learn that sports are just plain fun!
One of the projects developed by
the Cruyff Foundation is the Cruyff
Courts. The Cruyff Courts aim to
stimulate young people to
participate in sport. Sport is the
means to address issues like social
responsibility, integration, playing
together, moral values etc.
A Cruyff Court, often located in a
suburb, is the result of teamwork
between many different parties
comprising of local governments,
schools, football clubs, player/s,
local citizens, children and the
Cruyff Foundation. Presently there
are around 20 Cruyff Courts in the
world with the majority situated in
The Netherlands.
The Cruyff Courts are materialised
through donations in the form of,
prestigious prizes given to the most
talented player in the Dutch
National competition, a donation to
the Cruyff Foundation in
collaboration with the Dutch FA.
Special Cruyff Courts are those
adopted or initiated by football
players during or after their career.
These players serve as a role model
for youth and by giving the
community a Cruyff Court they show
their social responsibility.
For example: a Cruyff Court was
donated by Chelsea striker Arjen
Robben to Bedum, after
winning the most talented
prize in 2003. The Dutch
National Team have
donated four Cruyff Courts
to the cities Amsterdam,
Rotterdam, Eindhoven and
Zeist. Also former national
player Aron Winter has a
Cruyff Court in his name,
donated to the city of
Lelystad as a gift for his
retirement from football.
We are hoping that in the
not too distant future we
can open the very first
Cruyff Court in England...
Named after Dennis
Bergkamp.
For more information,
please see our website:
www.cruyff-foundation.org
WALKING ALONG, SINGING A SONG, WALKING IN A BERGKAMP WONDERLAND."
