Italian football legend Alessandro Del Piero has come to Prague to support an initiative that will offer football training and entertainment to children from socially disadvantaged backgrounds.

The leader in the insurance market Generali Česká pojišťovna, part of the Generali Group, today presented the five-day Soccer Camp Prague. About 120 girls and boys aged 8 to 14 from socially disadvantaged backgrounds will be invited to the event in cooperation with the non-profit organization Man in Need. Under the guidance of italy’s leading coaches, they will train technical football skills as well as physical prowess.

Soccer Camp Prague will take place at the Loko Vltavín course in Prague’s Holešovice from 21 to 25 August. The project’s ambassador is Alessandro Del Piero, the 2006 Italian world champion and long-time captain of Juventus FC. Thanks to the support of Generali Česká pojišťovna and its parent group Generali Group, the football camp is free for all participants. Representatives of the italian organization World Camp International, Generali Česká pojišťovna and Generali CEE Holding presented the first ever year in the Czech Republic to the public today.

“The initiative announced today confirms the Generali Group’s commitment to supporting projects that promote a culture of solidarity and social inclusion through the positive values of sport,” says Manlio Lostuzzi, Regional Director of Generali International for Central and Eastern Europe. “At Generali, we act as a force for good in building a more resilient and equitable society, which is why, as a responsible citizen, I am proud to strengthen ties with local communities that unlock the potential of the young generation.»

“In our comprehensive and ever-expanding programs, we focus on the next generation because we want the child to be able to develop his or her abilities regardless to the kind of environment he lives in. Many football legends grew up in challenging circumstances and if it hadn’t been for their talent spotting and supporting them, we might not know them today. We believe that with our tools we must create opportunities for development: with our support, Czech young teenage footballers, even from disadvantaged conditions, can show and develop their abilities at this year’s football camp,” stresses Roman Juráš, CEO of Generali Česká pojišťovna.

Thanks to the support of Generali Česká pojišťovna and its parent group Generali Group, the football camp is free for all participants. The children were invited to the camp in cooperation with the social programs of the nonprofit organization Man in Need. In addition, the three most talented participants, along with children from similar camps in other countries, participate in the Italian Football Camp Day, a three-day sports program in Coverciano, the home centre of the Italian national team. During their visit to Italy, the children will have the opportunity to further develop their football skills in training, racing, matches and will also visit the Italian Museum of Football and the Serie A match.

I am thrilled that we can hold a football camp in the Czech Republic for the first time, in a country where the passion for football among young generations is very strongly rooted,” says Marco Schembri, CEO and founder of World Camp International. “I am convinced that for the children attending the football camp, it will be a unique experience in which they will have fun and develop their skills with top Italian coaches.»

The project’s ambassador is Alessandro Del Piero, Italy’s 2006 World Cup winner. Del Piero started in 91 matches for the Italian national team and spent most of his professional career at Juventus FC, where he served from 1993 to 2012. In total he played 513 league games for Juventus, scoring 208 goals, and in 2012 he celebrated a seven-ball match in which he took the field for Juventus. He won six league titles with Juventus, the Italian Cup in 1995 and the Champions League a year later.

“I firmly believe in sporting values and initiatives such as soccer camp Prague, which aims to help disadvantaged children grow up through sport,” Alessandro Del Piero notes. “It is essential to offer the majority of children equal opportunities that enable them to develop their abilities.»

Italy’s World Camp International has hosted similar campsites for disadvantaged children, especially in Central and Eastern Europe, for 20 years, with 300,000 boys and girls taking part. It is held in the Czech Republic for the first time this year.

Generali Česká pojišťovna is part of the Generali Group, one of the world’s largest providers of insurance and asset management. It was founded in 1831. Prescribed insurance companies amount to €81.5 billion (in 2022). With more than 82,000 employees and with 68 million clients in more than 50 countries worldwide, The Generali Group is the leader in Europe, gaining increasing prominence in the Markets of Asia and Latin America.

JK