体坛英语新闻：Ghana to host FIFA grassroots program

ACCRA, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Ghana has been chosen by world football governing body FIFA as one of the venues to host its grassroots program, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) said in a statement here on Thursday.

The program, aimed at helping to develop the game at the grassroots level, will be held in Ghana's second largest commercial city Kumasi, about 278 km northwest of the capital, from June 22-24.

It will see 100 children between the ages of 6-12 from schools in Kumasi taking part in the exercise to be coordinated by the technical director of the GFA, Francis Oti Akenten, together with other FIFA officials.

The program is the first of its kind to be held in Ghana though it has previously taken place in some other African countries.

The FIFA grassroots program places at its core an emphasis on the notion of both education and fun for the children and targets boys and girls aged 6-12 years through school, community and club initiatives.

The key concept of the program is to bring together as many people as possible through football.

The grassroots program advocates exchanges and sharing human values and promotes the pleasure of practicing of the sport.

It also promotes mass participation and inclusivity, everyone has the right to play regardless of gender, age, skills, race, social origin and religion.

The successful implementation of grassroots initiatives is dependent on an accurate appraisal of the situation on the ground, an evaluation of the country data and an assessment of local needs.

This work, which is carried out by FIFA, in conjunction with the national football associations, is essential to the success of all grassroots programs.