Samir Nasri with German Double Club students
German Double Club pupils meet Arsenal star
Arsenal's star midfielder Samir Nasri handed 10 lucky German Double Club pupils an award for their language and football achievements at Emirates Stadium on Sunday, October 4. The pupils received the prizes pitchside ahead of the Gunners 6-2 victory over Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League.
The German youngsters were on an international exchange in England as part of the Double Club project, and as well as meeting Samir and watching the Arsenal's third home Premier League match of the season, they went sightseeing in Greenwich, participated in a football tournament and visited other Double Club partner schools in the UK.
The Double Club, founded by Arsenal Football Club in 1998 coinciding with the Gunner's Double-winning season, offers primary and secondary language modules in German, French and Spanish. It is an innovative education and football programme, which offers a range of other curriculum subjects, together with football coaching. Through the attraction of football and the involvement of international football stars, the programme engages pupils from all backgrounds.
The European Commission's London office is a partner in the Double Club and other partners of the programme include the Goethe Institute, the UK-German Connection, the French Institute and the Education Department of the Spanish Embassy in London. The European Commissioner for Multilingualism, Mr Leonard Orban, is the patron of the project.
Commissioner Orban said: "Languages are fundamental for Europeans to work and live together. Football is a unique language that crosses borders and has a special place in Europeans' hearts. That is why I am delighted that the European Commission is part of this excellent initiative and in particular has been able to support the exchange visits."
Due to the overwhelming success of the award-winning Arsenal Double Club and with involvement of the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), the programme is being introduced across the country with the participation of other football clubs and sport associations.
This London visit programme included:
Friday, October3 , 1.15-4.30pm
Arsenal FC's Emirates Stadium, North London:
Children participate in a guided stadium tour and visit the museum
Saturday, October 3, 10.30am-12pm
Goethe Institut, 50 Princes Gate, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2PH
Joint interactive lesson on German unification, marking the anniversary, followed by sightseeing in Greenwich
Sunday, October 4, 10am-12pm
IAMS (Islington Arts and Media School of Creativity) school, Turle Road, Islington, London
UK-German football tournament, in Arsenal and Hertha Berlin kits
12.30-3.30pm
Arsenal v Blackburn Rovers Premier League match - pitchside presentation ahead of the game. Samir Nasri presented the children with a Double Club award.
Monday, October 5
German schools visit UK partner schools in Colchester, Essex and Amersham, Buckinghamshire
For more information about the Double Club project, please see www.arsenal.com/community or contact Alex Henderson in the Communications Department of Arsenal Football Club by emailing ahenderson@arsenal.co.uk or call 020 7704 4015.
To get involved with Arsenal Double Club please contact Ross McKinley on rmckinley@arsenal.co.uk or call 020 7704 4147.
[Saturday, October 10, 2009]
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