04 Dec 2014
At a press conference organised by the London office of the Belgian Tourist Office-Brussels & Wallonia in collaboration with the town of Comines-Warneton, and in the presence of the Football Association, UEFA has revealed some of the reasons behind its decision to pay a special tribute to the Great War on 11 December 2014 at St Yves in Comines-Warneton.
A poignant episode of the Great War
It is at St Yves, a site that not only evokes the memory of an extraordinary fraternisation during times of war, but also the cult of memory and heritage, and the symbolism of a battlefield that became a place of peace, that Michel Platini, President of UEFA, will inaugurate, in the presence of a number of personalities from the political and sporting worlds, a monument commissioned by UEFA to commemorate the 1914 Christmas Truce, and more particularly the improvised game of football that took place in No Man's Land in December 1914.
It was Christmas 1914, the war had been raging for several months now, and the soldiers knew they would not be spending Christmas at home with their families and loved ones. Nevertheless, the magic of Christmas prevailed, causing fraternisations to take place along different locations on the front.
At Saint-Yves, British and German soldiers left their respective trenches and were taken over by a spirit of peace and humanity. A game of « football » will for all times remain linked to this truce. A sort of « Christmas miracle » where a simple ball game would seal a truce that would last for several days.
One hundred years later, these singular facts still provoke a feeling of deep respect, forged by the memory of these thousands of soldiers now departed, and by the power of the Truce through sport. The dedication to the commemorations, and the sincerity of the homages that have been paid, have proven to what extent people are attached to the duty of memory. This 1914 Christmas Truce now belongs to the collective memory. International and local associations, such as the Comité de la Bataille du Canal, have also demonstrated this by their faithful re-enactments and their recognition of the site of Saint-Yves.
UEFA will forever mark this « little peace of the Great War »
Through his special adviser William Gaillard, Michel Platini has declared: «This ceremony of memory will pay homage to soldiers who, one hundred years ago, expressed their humanity by playing a game of football, in so doing opening an important chapter in the construction of European Unity and serving as an example for the young people of today. »
This rare and extraordinary moment of peace and human fraternity – where football appeared as the only common language between men of different nationalities – is considered as one of the first non-structured expressions of the European idea, an idea that would later emerge on a concrete level after the Second World War.
Comines-Warneton creates a « Heritage Committee »
Mr Gilbert Deleu, Mayor of Comines-Warneton, has for his part emphasised the historic importance of this special day: « the gesture by UEFA, and in particular its president, to erect this monument at St Yves, Plugstreet, is an extremely strong symbol in this duty of memory by which we must always be stirred. By putting the seal of UEFA, and of this popular sport that is football, on these commemorations, Michel Platini has in one stroke called upon all those who love the “round ball” to take possession of this “truce” and propagate its spirit and the hope that it has provoked. »
That is the reason why the ceremony of 11 December will be open to all, starting from 12:00 near the Cross of St Yves; political and sporting bodies, local authorities, members of associations, young schoolchildren and citizens will all be able to share this rare moment.
But the momentum that will be created will not stop there; during the first 6 months of 2015 the Heritage Committee of the Saint Yves Cross will be officially launched. Its identity will be represented by a strong image: the poppy, symbol of the blood and horror of the Great War, and the “pause” sign, a moment of relief, a sort of truce, and the meaningful word TRUCE.
Gathering « initiative bearers » to accelerate the « truce» process, creating opportunities for dialogue and reconciliation, these will be some of the major objectives of the future committee.
A weekend of commemorations on 19,20 and 21 December
To celebrate the Centenary of the Christmas Truce the town of Comines-Warneton will be organising a varied and educational programme, with a strong emphasis on history.
This will include a series of events around the re-enactment of the Christmas Truce, of what it was like to live in the trenches and of the game of football; a torchlight march, a Last Post and a concert by the Musique Royale de la Marine; guided visits of the « Plugstreet 14-18 experience » Interpretation Centre, and a walking tour of the frontline; a screening of the film « Joyeux Noël », and a Christmas Market.
A video of the press conference with interviews can be viewed on
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zgepulFVyo&list=UUcyGRwHHOWxpsG0Or_SDB0g
Ends
Sophie Bouallegue
Press & PR Manager
020 7531 0390
@whybelgium
Caption of image: Left to right: William Gaillard of UEFA, Francoise Scheepers, Director of the Belgian Tourist Office-Brussels &Wallonia, Mr Mr Gilbert Deleu, Mayor of Comines-Warneton, Mr Philippe Housiaux of Dialogic, Chris Shaw of Shorncliffe Trust, Greg Dimitriou of the FA
