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Log inSoccer goes on health kick
Soccer goes on health kick
by Outspoken on Sun Jul 27, 2008 6:02 am
Soccer goes on health kick
Portland officials use the annual tournament as a way to reach the Latino community with information on health care services.
By EDWARD D. MURPHY
Staff Writer Portland Press Herald
Portland officials are using soccer in an attempt to improve the health of the city's Latino population.
And it's not just the health benefits of playing soccer -- the game is also seen as a way to reach soccer fans with information on health care services that are available to them.
"The passion of Latinos is soccer," said Nelida Berke, a city Latino community health promotion specialist. "We use it to get families here."
This is the fifth year of Portland's Latino Soccer Tournament, which began Saturday with three games at Fitzpatrick Stadium. The event continues next Saturday, with semifinal games and a championship game.
In addition to Saturday's games, there was a parade and food was provided.
As soon as fans entered Fitzpatrick Stadium, they passed a row of tables with information on HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, breast and cervical health, and on health care providers, such as the Portland Community Free Clinic, Maine Medical Center, Mercy Hospital and others.
Berke said the idea of using soccer to reach the community came up because of concern that Latino immigrants in the area weren't taking advantage of health services available to them and the game would provide an attractive draw to men, women and children.
She said city officials were particularly worried that Latinos weren't using the city's free tests for sexually transmitted diseases,
"In my community, talking about sex, especially HIV and STDs, is taboo," said Berke, an immigrant from Peru, and so families couldn't be relied on to talk to children about the risks of unprotected sex.
Interest in the soccer tournament has grown every year, she said, starting with about 300 spectators in 2004 and increasing to more than 1,100 last year.
She said players include immigrants from Peru, Spain, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Trinidad and Tobago and El Salvador.
Israel Ortiz, captain of the La Familia/North Atlantic team and an immigrant from Guatemala, said the tournament represents an informal championship for a half-dozen Latino teams that play year-round in Portland. Participation is growing, he said, with players coming from other cities in the state.
"We've met a lot of new people that we haven't seen before," he said, adding that the sport and the tournament help new immigrants integrate with Portland's Latino community.
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=201587&ac=PHnws
Photos By Gordon Chibroski/Staff Photographer
Portland officials use the annual tournament as a way to reach the Latino community with information on health care services.
By EDWARD D. MURPHY
Staff Writer Portland Press Herald
Portland officials are using soccer in an attempt to improve the health of the city's Latino population.
And it's not just the health benefits of playing soccer -- the game is also seen as a way to reach soccer fans with information on health care services that are available to them.
"The passion of Latinos is soccer," said Nelida Berke, a city Latino community health promotion specialist. "We use it to get families here."
This is the fifth year of Portland's Latino Soccer Tournament, which began Saturday with three games at Fitzpatrick Stadium. The event continues next Saturday, with semifinal games and a championship game.
In addition to Saturday's games, there was a parade and food was provided.
As soon as fans entered Fitzpatrick Stadium, they passed a row of tables with information on HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, breast and cervical health, and on health care providers, such as the Portland Community Free Clinic, Maine Medical Center, Mercy Hospital and others.
Berke said the idea of using soccer to reach the community came up because of concern that Latino immigrants in the area weren't taking advantage of health services available to them and the game would provide an attractive draw to men, women and children.
She said city officials were particularly worried that Latinos weren't using the city's free tests for sexually transmitted diseases,
"In my community, talking about sex, especially HIV and STDs, is taboo," said Berke, an immigrant from Peru, and so families couldn't be relied on to talk to children about the risks of unprotected sex.
Interest in the soccer tournament has grown every year, she said, starting with about 300 spectators in 2004 and increasing to more than 1,100 last year.
She said players include immigrants from Peru, Spain, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Trinidad and Tobago and El Salvador.
Israel Ortiz, captain of the La Familia/North Atlantic team and an immigrant from Guatemala, said the tournament represents an informal championship for a half-dozen Latino teams that play year-round in Portland. Participation is growing, he said, with players coming from other cities in the state.
"We've met a lot of new people that we haven't seen before," he said, adding that the sport and the tournament help new immigrants integrate with Portland's Latino community.
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=201587&ac=PHnws
Photos By Gordon Chibroski/Staff Photographer
"Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything."
Plato (427-347 BC)
Plato (427-347 BC)
