FRANCE 98 – World suburbs football tournament

From 2 July to 8 July 1998, Banlieues du Monde (world suburbs), a series of sporting events, is being staged in stadiums in SAINT-DENIS, Aubervilliers, Epinay, and La Courneuve. These towns, in partnership with the Printemps de Bourges music festival, are behind this initiative. The Banlieues du Monde includes an international football tournament for 15-18 year-olds and a variety of alternative activities for other young people. Twenty four sports instructors will be present at each site. The football tournament comprises twenty two overseas teams representing the five continents. Each match played consists of two halves each of twenty minutes, with official referees. At this point, the team from Johannesburg seems well placed to win the competition.There are also 3 a-side matches and foot-tennis so that everybody can take part in the festival.