To mark the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, “Only a game?”
explores the parallel growth of European football and the European Union.
Has football helped to forge a sense of European identity among its
citizens? Or does it instead strengthen our national and local identities?
The exhibition employs a daring design. At the heart of the visit are a giant
table-football equipped with Playstations and an interactive sphere. These
are the dramatic beginning and end points of the journey. The exhibition
has been designed with everyone in mind – the young and old, fans of
football and those who are not. Visitors can immerse themselves in the
stories of heroes (Zidane, Eusebio, Cruyff, Scifo, Schmeichel, Nuri Sahin,
Puskas, Seedorf, etc.). They will find interactive zones and rare artefacts
from prestigious European museums of sport.
Proud of his roots, open to others, eager to learn their traditions, and
something of a culture vulture, the FC Barcelona defender Lilian Thuram
has agreed to lend his support to the exhibition. “I am not defined by a
geographic area, but by a feeling. For me, Europe is a place for sharing.
Being European is all about growing.”
An experts panel – comprising museum directors, journalists, writers,
personalities from the world of football, as well as representatives of the
Brussels Region, the European Union and UEFA – has shaped the form
and content of the exhibition.
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