Thirty kids with hearing loss trained a full week with soccer player Simon Ollert at the 2018 Phonak Soccer Camp. Simon Ollert confirms 2019 Phonak Football camp

Participants in the soccer camp praised the quality of this event and want to come back next year. A mother of a participant wrote to the organizers: “My daughter liked the camp very much. We are so excited. We would love to come back. The whole team is incredible! THANK YOU”

Given the enthusiasm of the 30 young participants, Simon Ollert and Phonak have decided to organize a fourth edition of Phonak Soccer Camp in Summer 2019. The event will welcome soccer-crazed girls and boys with hearing loss ages ten to 14 from any country.

The international invitation to join the camp is being organized in partnership with pediatric audiologists and Phonak’s national companies. An innovation this year was the option to apply by video. A short clip, recorded using a smartphone, gave kids an opportunity to introduce themselves and demonstrate some of their soccer skills. In this way, Phonak and Simon Ollert, along with his team of trainers, can get to know the children in advance, choose the optimal place for them according to their skills, and encourage their development in a more effective and targeted way. 

The training sessions during the five-day event are professionally delivered by Simon Ollert and his team of trainers. They teach soccer skills and nurture a feel for the ball. Fair play and team spirit are very much in evidence. Through enjoyment of the game, the kids learn how to build their self-confidence, measure themselves against their peers, and grow in terms of both their sporting ability and their personality. 

Advice and tips on living with hearing aids at school and during sports and leisure activities will be provided by experts from Phonak, who were on-hand throughout the event. Phonak has been developing hearing solutions for over 70 years and has decades of experience in providing pediatric hearing aids. Phonak offers state-of-the-art hearing and radio solutions, with sizes, colors, shapes, and technology that are perfectly tuned to the everyday needs of kids and young people. 

For Simon Ollert, the soccer camp is a project that is very close to his heart. “My own story shows what you can really achieve, despite hearing loss. It's amazing that Phonak is helping me to put this unique sporting event together. It allows us to inspire kids and young people and to encourage them to pursue their own goals in life.” 

Special guests at Phonak Soccer camps since 2016:

Jérôme Boateng, soccer star, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%A9r%C3%B4me_Boateng

Jonathan Tah, soccer player, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Tah

Tobias Strobl, soccer player, https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tobias_Strobl

Tianjiao Zhang, dancer, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2scKCCJVA0

Christian Nerlinger, retired german soccer player, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Nerlinger

Jason Brügger, Circus artist, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSmsRnNxZIs

Fritz Sendlhofer, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWXHMlV3ZLE