MEDIA INVITATION: Tuesday 26 May 11am
All Stars football match in Rome to mark 100 days until the Milan 2009 Homeless World Cup
World Cup winning French footballer and former Chelsea and AC Milan star Marcel Desailly will take part in a 5-a-side football match the day before the UEFA Champions League Final in Rome to mark 100 days until the Milan 2009 Homeless World Cup. Desailly will captain an All Stars team, coached by Sir Bobby Charlton, and will take on the Italian Homeless World Cup Team.
The Vodafone Foundation is a founding partner of the Homeless World Cup. Vodafone Group Plc, a sponsor of the UEFA Champions League, has granted The Vodafone Foundation use of the UEFA Champions Festival Pitch to celebrate its partnership with the Homeless World Cup. The match with Marcel Desailly marks the 100 day countdown to the Milan 2009 Homeless World Cup (6-13 September 2009), where Italy, two times Homeless World Cup champions, will be aiming to regain their championship glory in front of their home crowd.
What:
• Photography and filming opportunity at the game
• Opportunity to attend a Q&A with football legends Marcel Desailly and Sir Bobby Charlton after the game
• Interview opportunity with members of the Italian Homeless World Cup team, Homeless World Cup Founder Mel Young and Vodafone Foundation Director Andrew Dunnett
When:
Tuesday 26th May 2009, 11 00 – 13 00
11 00 – 11 15 Photocall / coaching session
11 15 – 12 00 Football Game
12 00 – 12 15 Prize giving and Q&A
12 15 – 13 00 Interviews (by prior arrangement)
Where:
UEFA Champions League Festival Park, Parco Del Colle Oppio (via Della Polveriera), 00184 Rome (near the Coliseum)
Who:
Q&A with Marcel Desailly & Sir Bobby Charlton
Interview opportunities with; Homeless World Cup Team Italia
Homeless World Cup Founder Mel Young
Vodafone Foundation Director Andrew Dunnett
Why:
The Homeless World Cup uses football to energise people who are homeless to change their own lives.
The Vodafone Foundation is supporting the Homeless World Cup Foundation with a £500,000 grant, donated over a two year period. This core start-up funding from The Vodafone Foundation is developing infrastructure and grassroots football projects in over 75 nations. The projects culminate with the world-class international football tournament - the Homeless World Cup – which aims to give over one million people who are homeless, access to the benefits of football.
According to research 77% of players involved in the Homeless World Cup experience a significant life change as a result of the tournament. Furthermore, 94% claim to have a renewed motivation for life after coming off drugs and alcohol, moving into homes, jobs, education, training, repairing relationships and becoming coaches or players with semi-pro teams.
For further information, to confirm attendance or arrange interviews please contact: Kat Byles, Communications & Event Director, Homeless World Cup on +44 7901 701 334 or kat@homelessworldcup.org
