Esther Vergeer visited UMC Utrecht often as a young girl. Now there is her own Cruyff Court on the UMC Utrecht site, next to the Prof. Fritz Redlschool for Special Education and close to the Wilhelmina Kinderziekenhuis. This afternoon, the Cruyff Court was officially opened and put into use by the school children.
Esther, paralympic wheelchair tennis champion, founder of the Esther Vergeer Foundation and Chef de Mission of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris has been a Cruyff Foundation ambassador for many years. She also had a personal relation with Johan Cruyff. He was among the first to support her Esther Vergeer Foundation. Together, they are committed to making sport possible for children for whom this doesn’t come naturally. Sport develops, Johan Cruyff knew: "If you can pick up a tennis ball, you can also pick up a fork," he would say. Also, 14 rules of Johan Cruyff, which are present on every Cruyff Court, support playing together and having respect for each other, among other things.
Esther Vergeer is proud of her own Court. "Great that a Cruyff Court has opened that bears my name! I hope lots of children will play sports and have fun there. The Cruyff Foundation has supported the work of my own Foundation for years. I am very grateful for that!"
Cruyff Court Esther Vergeer creates space for children and youngsters to develop physically, mentally and socially through sport. This also applies to the pupils of the nearby Fritz Redlschool. This school supports pupils with complex behavioral issues to get their educational development back on track.
"Young children can release their energy on this Cruyff Court and enjoy being outside. Older pupils get out of their heads and into their bodies" said Denise Pot of the Prof. Fritz Redlschool.
Other nearby institutions such as the Wilhelmina Kinderziekenhuis can also use the Court. The multifunctional sports court has a snapsports floor of tiles to make it accessible for wheelchairs. The concrete blocks on the side are there to sit on or do exercises upon. Besides football there is also the possibility to play basketball, tennis and volleyball.
Cruyff Court Esther Vergeer is realized in cooperation with the AFAS Foundation, de vrienden van UMC Utrecht & Wilhelmina Kinderziekenhuis and Prof. Fritz Redlschool.
More safe meeting places for sport and play.
The Cruyff Foundation and AFAS Foundation are teaming up to open three new Cruyff Courts, the first of which is the Cruyff Court Esther Vergeer today. The second will be a Cruyff Court at another location in the Netherlands and the third will be located in South Africa as part of the Thabelang Disabled Centre.
Gerben Eversdijk, director of AFAS Foundation: "With this cooperation to create three new Cruyff Courts, we can realise inspiring meeting places for children. Here they can enjoy playing sports, playing outside and making new friends. Great that we as Cruyff Foundation and AFAS Foundation can make this happen. Hopefully many new courts will be added in the coming years."
About the AFAS Foundation
The AFAS Foundation inspires to do better and dreams of making the world a better place for those who desperately need it. The Foundation makes money available in an innovative and transparent way for sustainable projects that make a big impact at home and abroad. You can find more information about submitting an application and the criteria used for assessment at www.afas.foundation/project-aanmelden
Vrienden UMC Utrecht & Wilhelmina Kinderziekenhuis is the charity for everyone who wants to contribute to the best care and treatment in a child-friendly and comfortable environment
