CAFE is proud to publish the summary report of our third International Conference - Total Football #TotalAccess - that took place in Bilbao in November 2018.

The Conference - the largest event of its kind - brought together over 200 delegates to celebrate improved access and inclusion in the game, as well as to share best practices and consider future improvements. Over 30 countries were represented at the Conference, with many of football's major governing bodies also in attendance.

Following the Conference, CAFE contacted attendees with a short survey to gauge their feedback on the event. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with delegates reacting positively to the choice of venue, accommodation, organisation and content of the Conference.

The report also includes specific sections on the first ever CAFE Access and Inclusion Champions Awards ceremony, and the social evening event held after the first day. The social event was scheduled as a result of feedback from CAFE's second International Conference, held at the Stade de France in 2015, when delegates reported that greater networking opportunities would be advantageous.

As part of the survey, CAFE asked delegates to share what #TotalAccess means to them. A selection of these responses have been included in the report, demonstrating the key messages that delegates took from attending the Conference.

CAFE Managing Director Joanna Deagle said, "We hope that the Conference has a lasting impact on those in attendance and watching on live stream. We were delighted to welcome so many passionate delegates and expert speakers to Bilbao, and we are sure that many attendees took great motivation from the event".

The impact of the Conference continues to be felt across Europe, including in the host city of Bilbao. The Conference gave local disabled fans the opportunity to come together and meet with established disabled supporters groups, and as a result they have now created a similar group at Athletic Club. Other delegates also spoke about the changes that they have been able to implement at their clubs, stadiums, leagues and national associations after attending the event. 

To download the third International Conference summary report, please click here (PDF). Videos of each presentation and panel session can be viewed here, and an online photo album from the Conference is available here. 

CAFE is already looking ahead to our next International Conference, which is scheduled to take place in 2021. Delegates in Bilbao suggested that audio-descriptive commentary of the event could be helpful, and this is something that we will look to provide. We will also ensure that delegates who qualify for accommodation bursaries will be allocated with suitable hotels, and will be looking to simplify the registration process with an online solution. 

For more information about the CAFE International Conference 2018 - Total Football #TotalAccess -  please click here.

Published 25/04/2019