Phonak Has Teamed Up With the First International Soccer Camp for Children Suffering From Hearing Loss

STÄFA, Switzerland, June 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Phonak, the world's leading manufacturer of hearing instruments and wireless communications solutions, has joined Bundesliga youth team player Simon Ollert in inviting soccer-mad children with hearing loss from six countries to a three-day training camp in Germany. Their goal is to help children with hearing loss make progress in their personal development. Simon Ollert is the only player with profound hearing loss playing professional soccer in any of the German-speaking countries and the 19-year-old will be training some 30 children between the ages of 12 and 14 at a camp to be held in Ettal, Bavaria, between August 19 and 21, 2016. A film made by Phonak about Simon's life has just won an award, and his idea for this first international soccer camp for children with hearing loss represents the next step in his successful partnership with the company. 

"My story shows just what you can achieve despite hearing loss. Ever since I can remember, I have dreamt of being a professional soccer player. My Phonak hearing aids spurred my ambitions and have helped me live a life without limits. It's wonderful that Phonak are now also helping me make my first soccer camp a reality - it means we can give children a leg up so they too can follow their dream in life with the same determination."

Video: Lights, camera, action!

Dribbling, passing, scoring goals 

Simon Ollert has invited children from six countries in Europe to the picturesque surroundings of Ettal Abbey for his three-day summer camp, with the young people's participation being organized in close cooperation with leading pediatric hearing care professionals. Youngsters from Austria and the German-speaking regions of France, Italy (South Tyrol), Switzerland and Belgium are also expected to take part. The kids can look forward to a varied training program, with ball control and many other soccer skills on the menu. The young people can learn how to test themselves against others and so develop self-confidence and courage in a playful context. An exciting schedule of supplementary activities will give the children an opportunity to quiz Simon Ollert on his life as a professional soccer player and the weekend of sport will culminate in a match starring all of the camp participants.

Day-to-day tips for children with hearing aids  

An expert from Phonak's pediatric audiology department will be on hand to advise parents and children for the duration of the soccer camp, answering questions and giving valuable "life hacks" for hearing aid handling in the context of school, sport and leisure. As the market leader, Phonak has more than 40 years' experience of providing children with hearing aids; the company supplies cutting-edge hearing and wireless solutions whose size, color, shape and technology are ideally suited to the day-to-day needs of children and young people.

"Creating hearing solutions that are right for children is one of our core competencies," says Martin Grieder, Group Vice President Phonak. "So the Simon Ollert football camp is a perfect fit for Phonak and for our mission to use hearing solutions to effect positive changes in people's lives. The camp helps children make great strides in their emotional and social development - we are extremely proud of Simon and we are delighted to be supporting him in bringing this fantastic idea to fruition."

About Phonak  

Headquartered near Zurich, Switzerland, Phonak, a member of the Sonova Group, was born in 1947 from a passion and dedication to take on the most difficult hearing challenges. Seventy years later, this passion remains. As the industry's leading provider, we offer the broadest portfolio of life-changing hearing solutions. From pediatric to profound hearing loss, we remain committed to creating hearing solutions that change people's lives to thrive socially and emotionally. We believe in changing lives and creating a world where "Life is on" for everyone.

At Phonak, we believe that hearing well is essential to living life to the fullest.

For almost 70 years, we remain true to our mission by pioneering hearing solutions that change people's lives to thrive socially and emotionally. Life is on.

For more information, please visit our website at http://www.phonak.com, http://www.phonakpro.com or contact: Patrick Lehn, Corporate Communications Manager, Sonova Group, E-Mail: patrick.lehn@sonova.com, +41-58-928-3323