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Football World makes statement around international Coming Out Day: 'Everyone is welcome and should be able to be themselves, no one excluded.'

Through this press release, we would like to draw your attention to the #AllTogetherChallenge around International Coming Out Day – 11 October 2021, an initiative of the Alliantie Gelijkspelen 4.0 (John Blankenstein Foundation, NOC*NSF, KNVB and KNHB) in collaboration with the Eredivisie, Keuken Kampioen Divisie, Pure Energie Eredivisie Women, Eredivisie Men's Indoor Football, Eredivisie Women's Indoor Football, VVCS, CBV and ESPN.

Through this press release, we would like to draw your attention to the #AllTogetherChallenge around the international Coming Out Day - 11 October 2021, an initiative of the Alliance Equality 4.0 (John Blankenstein Foundation, NOC*NSF, KNVB and KNHB) in cooperation with the Eredivisie, Keuken Kampioen Divisie, Pure Energy Eredivisie Women, Eredivisie Zaalvoetbal Men, Eredivisie Zaalvoetbal Women, VVCS, CBV and ESPN. We make a strong case for the message that everyone is welcome, should be able to be themselves and that no one should be excluded.

The weekend of play around 15 October 2021 will see several actions in the football world:

  • The captains of all teams will play with the special '#OneLove' captain's armband. #OneLove is the campaign for connection and is part of the joint plan of attack against discrimination, 'Our football belongs to everyone'.
  • All coaches and (assistant) referees wear a rainbow pin.
  • ESPN makes the rainbow recur in its microphones, pins and TV appearances
  • Rainbow corner flags fly at all home playing clubs
  • Telstar and FC Volendam set a world first as part of the #AllTogetherChallenge. Both teams will play the 'Vissersderby' in a specially designed rainbow jersey. Never before have both the home and away clubs adapted their outfits for this theme in an official game

Amateur football and all other sports are also participating! Sports federations and clubs will call on their members around Coming Out Day to wear a rainbow band or other rainbow item during their sports games. The band can be ordered via www.alltogether-challenge.nl. Proceeds benefit the John Blankenstein Foundation.

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For information on the #AllTogetherChallenge:
Rowin Bouwmeester on behalf of SportsGen - 0628398687 or r.bouwmeester@sportsgen.nl

For information on the Alliance Equals:
Karin Blankenstein on behalf of the John Blankenstein Foundation - 0651452320 or karinblankenstein@johnblankensteinfoundation.nl