With this year’s World Cup coming up, several Dutch football clubs are organising so-called Football Memories World Cup Specials. Alzheimer Nederland has developed a special World Cup edition: a set of conversation cards and other materials designed to give the session a World Cup atmosphere.
Both professional clubs as well as amateur clubs are enthusiastic. The first football club to join this World Cup Special was the club MVV Maastricht. Some nearly 40 senior citizens with a family member had a pleasant afternoon in the football stadium of their club. With the help of nearly 20 volunteers, an interactive quiz was organised. The volunteers had made a video compilation of six iconic World Cup moments from previous World Cup (semi)finals in which the Dutch team had played. For instance, Rob Rensenbrink’s shot hitting the post in 1978, Dennis Bergkamp’s goal against Argentina and Robin van Persie’s header against Spain. These sometimes-hilarious video moments were well remembered by most participants.
To create more media attention for this World Cup Special of Football Memories a former radio sport commentator and two former football players were present. One of them, Bert van Marwijk (pictured – ‘then and now’) was the Dutch national coach at the 2010 World Cup. The other Boudewijn Zenden played at the 1998 World Cup.
“Football Memories” is a regular programme run by Alzheimer Nederland. The event on 7 May was made possible with extra funds from the “VriendenLoterij” and with the help of Collaborating Health Funds who promote more peer support.
Over the next two years, Alzheimer Nederland aims to encourage a further 20 new football clubs to organise regular Football Memories sessions, specifically for older people, those with mild memory problems and those with dementia. The materials are also available to all the other 39 football clubs in the Netherlands participating in the Football Memories programme.
