Summary.
The bill proposes designating May 6 of each year as National Footballers’ Day, recognizing footballers’ contribution to the sporting, cultural and social development of Panama. For the purposes of the proposed law, a footballer is anyone who plays football professionally or as an amateur and contributes to the sport. The definition connects that activity with effort, teamwork and dedication. The observance would therefore encompass players in both forms of participation, without limiting it to a particular level of competition.
To mark the day, the State, through the Panamanian Sports Institute (Instituto Panameño de Deportes), would promote and organize commemorative activities in coordination with the Panamanian Football Federation (Federación Panameña de Fútbol) and other related organizations. The bill identifies football tournaments and competitions across different categories and levels; tributes and recognition for distinguished footballers; talks and workshops on football’s role in personal and social development; and activities that bring communities together through football. This list allows other commemorative activities in addition to those expressly identified. The proposed arrangements combine action by the State with coordination involving the federation and organizations connected to the sport.
Activities held for National Footballers’ Day would have to promote discipline, respect, solidarity, gender equality, inclusion and nonviolence. The bill applies this requirement to the observance’s activities alongside the values of effort, teamwork and dedication included in its definition of a footballer. Competitions, tributes, talks, workshops and community gatherings would thus take place within the framework of the sporting values set out in the bill’s provisions.
In educational institutions, the Ministry of Education (Ministerio de Educación, MEDUCA), in coordination with the Panamanian Sports Institute (Instituto Panameño de Deportes, PANDEPORTES) and the Panamanian Football Federation (Federación Panameña de Futbol, FEPAFUT), would advance educational and awareness campaigns about the importance of football and the values it promotes. The bill directs the Executive Branch (Órgano Ejecutivo), acting through the Ministry of Education and PANDEPORTES, to issue implementing regulations within no more than six months after promulgation. It provides that the proposed law would take effect upon promulgation. Its transitional provision schedules the first observance of National Footballers’ Day for May 6 of the year following promulgation.
The public bodies concerned are the Panamanian Sports Institute, the Ministry of Education and the Executive Branch; the text also names the Panamanian Football Federation and Panama. Its provisions could be of interest to professional and amateur footballers, educational institutions, sports organizations and communities taking part in the planned activities.
What it proposes.
- Designation of National Footballers’ Day.
- Organization of commemorative activities and promotion of sporting values.
- Educational campaigns about football and regulations for the observance.
Who it would affect.
- Professional and amateur footballers.
- Organizations responsible for organizing and coordinating commemorative activities.
- Educational institutions where the campaigns would be conducted.
Key points.
- Designates May 6 of each year as National Footballers’ Day.Art. 1
- Defines a footballer as a person who plays professionally or as an amateur and contributes to the sport.Art. 2
- Directs the State to promote and organize commemorative activities in coordination with the federation and other related organizations.Art. 3
- Includes tournaments, tributes, talks, workshops and community activities among the forms of observance.Art. 3
- Requires activities to promote discipline, respect, solidarity, gender equality, inclusion and nonviolence.Art. 4
- Provides for educational and awareness campaigns in educational institutions about football and its values.Art. 5
- Directs the Executive Branch to issue implementing regulations within no more than six months after promulgation.Art. 6
- Provides that the proposed law would take effect upon promulgation.Art. 7