News
Haven of last hope!
Broadening horizons. For the first time, the Sepp Blatter Foundation is supporting a project outside the canton of Valais and earmarking the annual support award of CHF 25,000 for Chasa Flurina, a home for people with autism in the village of Lavin, Graubünden.
“We had never expected this,” says Ueli Hintermann, General Manager of the educational and social therapy residential community in Lower Engadine. It is extremely gratifying that their work is held in such high regard, continues Hintermann. “And what is more, I used to be an ambitious footballer and have always wanted to meet Sepp Blatter,” he adds with a smile.
Hintermann talked in moving words about life inside Chasa Flurina: “People come to us who have gone through an awful lot over many years and are traumatised; who have been imprisoned, tied up, isolated or sedated with drugs.” Together with his five staff, Hintermann pursues a completely different approach in caring for people with autism spectrum disorders: “Our therapy is learning to live – and this can only be put into practice by creating a relationship of trust and granting people individual responsibility.” There are no medicinal therapies at Chasa Flurina.
This calls for all the more patience and empathy: “At the beginning our residents have neither a circadian rhythm nor any structure to their lives.” They are unable to master everyday things such as eating, sleeping and controlled defecation. Hintermann spoke with much empathy and thoughtfulness while at the same time ruling out excessive expectations: “Those coming to us have no chance of ever leading a normal life again.”
It is precisely for this reason that Chasa Flurina, in which seven persons currently live, is so important. Eveline Bachmann, whose 21-year-old son Michel suffers from infantile autism and found a new home in Lavin three years ago, says: “Here Michel can live in dignified conditions and without medication.” In her moving book Our Michel she writes that the “skilled caregivers have successfully managed with remarkable abilities to calm her easily excitable son and win his trust without administering any psychotropic drugs”.
Founder Sepp Blatter was visibly moved by this account and used a simple reason to explain why the support contribution in 2019 was going to Engadine: “We wish to help people who help people.” For Niklaus Furger, President of the Communal Parliament of Visp and President of the Board of Management of the Sepp Blatter Foundation, the fact that for the first time an institution outside Valais is being given a chance also ties in with the underlying idea of the Foundation: “We wish to become even more involved in social and community projects. And with Chasa Flurina we have found an institution that is of major relevance for society – even though it is not recognised to a befitting extent by the public at large.”
The entire audience (including President of the Citizens Assembly Georges Schmid) in Visp’s community hall was deeply impressed. The understanding prevailed that health is our most important asset and by no means to be taken for granted. The emotive musical sounds accompanying the moving topic were provided by the renowned Russian organist Alina Nikitina. At the end of an atmospheric event, there was a predominant sense of respect and admiration for the work done by Ueli Hintermann and his team in Lavin. And Sepp Blatter summed up what everyone was thinking: “The award this year is going to exactly the right place.”
2019 award
Haven of last hope! Broadening horizons. For the first time, the Sepp Blatter Foundation is supporting a project outside the canton of Valais and earmarking the annual support award of CHF 25,000 for Chasa Flurina, a home for people with autism in the village of Lavin, Graubünden.
Uphill for a good cause. Snowboarding Olympic champion Patrizia Kummer is taking part in the “Bärgüf” charity event (www.baerguef.ch) on 24 August to support young people suffering from cancer.
The 31-year-old from Mühlebach will encounter affected children in wheelchairs on the 15.3-kilometre route from Stalden to Moosalp: “This is something very close to my heart. The fight against this disease concerns all of us.”
The sponsors of the only female Olympic gold medallist in history from Valais also include the Sepp Blatter Foundation. Founder Sepp Blatter says, “All initiatives that benefit public health and social aspects are very important. And when such a charismatic athlete as Patrizia leads by example, we’re all called to show support.” Blatter considers this a true act of solidarity from Goms. He adds, “Mühlebach is a central location of our valley. It is from here that the most prominent Valais personalities come – Cardinal Schiner and Patrizia Kummer.” The village is also worth visiting for its culinary flair. Kummer’s bed and breakfast “Hängebrigga” (www.bed-and-breakfast-goms.ch) offers the best cakes and the friendliest service for miles.
Solidarity from Goms: The SB Foundation is supporting Patrizia Kummer
Uphill for a good cause. Snowboarding Olympic champion Patrizia Kummer is taking part in the “Bärgüf” charity event (www.baerguef.ch) on 24 August to support young people suffering from cancer.
The Sepp Blatter Foundation presented the special award worth CHF 25,000 at the Valais Women’s Cup Final on 9 May 2018 in Lens, thereby paying tribute to the work carried out to date while also calling on the Valais federation to promote and strengthen the current presence of women’s football in Valais even more.
Sepp Blatter has always been a major supporter of women’s football and hopes that the award will further advance the cause of the federation. “I am aware that there is still room for improvement in the development of women’s football in Valais. I therefore hope that the federation now develops a concept to promote women’s football even more.”
The Final was held in a perfect environment with a large contingent of spectators. The women from FC Sion beat FC Savièse 5:0. When presenting the award, Sepp Blatter also addressed a few words to the two teams and particularly underlined the fairness and sportsmanship of the losing team.
Special award for Football Valaisan Féminin
The Sepp Blatter Foundation presented the special award worth CHF 25,000 at the Valais Women’s Cup Final on 9 May 2018 in Lens, thereby paying tribute to the work carried out to date while also calling on the Valais federation to promote and strengthen the current presence of women’s football in Valais even more.
It is a great pleasure for the Sepp Blatter Foundation to be able to present the 2016 Award, with prize money of CHF 25,000, to the Musikdorf Ernen Festival.
The beautiful and emotional celebration took place on 2 August 2017 in the historic Tellenhaus in Ernen in the presence of the Sepp Blatter Foundation board members, President of the Musikdorf Ernen Society Anton Clausen, Artistic Director Francesco Walter, President of Ernen Christine Clausen, as well as representatives of the municipality and the Musikdorf Ernen Festival and was accompanied by music from concert pianist Paul Giacometti.
The Sepp Blatter Foundation would like to reinforce the cultural importance of the festival in Switzerland and abroad with this award. It is not obvious that such high-quality classical music would be played in this beautiful, picturesque village of Ernen and has been since 1974!
Sepp Blatter pointed out the parallels between music and football. Both bring people together and are full of emotion. He was especially thrilled that the 2016 Award went to Goms, the area he comes from.
After presenting the award, we enjoyed the first orchestra concert in the church. It was a feast for the ears for us all.
You can find more information about the Musikdorf Ernen Festival at: www.musikdorf.ch
2016 award
It is a great pleasure for the Sepp Blatter Foundation to be able to present the 2016 Award, with prize money of CHF 25,000, to the Musikdorf Ernen Festival.
The statutes of the Sepp Blatter Foundation were amended at the end of 2016. The purpose and objectives of the Foundation have been adjusted in order to support even more people, institutions and clubs. This is in future also to be possible well beyond the borders of the benefactor's home canton.
Amendment to the statutes
The statutes of the Sepp Blatter Foundation were amended at the end of 2016. The purpose and objectives of the Foundation have been adjusted in order to support even more people, institutions and clubs. This is in future also to be possible well beyond the borders of the benefactor's home canton.
João Havelange has passed away.
As the Olympic Games take place in his home city of Rio, he has left us today, 16 August 2016, at the age of 100 and three months.
Besides his Olympic spirit, João Havelange will of course be remembered for his life in football, which culminated in his accession to the presidency of FIFA at the Frankfurt Congress in June 1974 – the post he occupied until 1998.
His ambition was to make football a global game, calling it the "universal language". He succeeded. From February 1975, I had the personal honour of following him on his quest, helping to develop FIFA into the organisation it is today.
Football thus owes him a huge debt of gratitude. I thank him for the trust he gave me in achieving his objective.
The name Havelange will always be synonymous with the development of football – and with the Olympic movement, to which the Estádio Olímpico João Havelange in Rio is testament. Thanks to João Havelange, football is the world's leading sport – not only from a social, cultural and economic perspective, but also in terms of its political impact.
Rest in peace, João. Football – your passion, my mission – is in good shape. You should be proud.
And thank you, João. My deepest sympathy and condolences to your family, especially your charming wife Ana Maria.
Tribute by Sepp Blatter, former President of FIFA to João Havelange
João Havelange has passed away.