Forty-eight countries are on their way to Cape Town for the fourth Homeless World Cup, with one goal in mind: To kick off global poverty and change their lives forever. Hosted by The Big Issue, this is an international initiative to make a change in the marginalised lives of street people. The 2006 Homeless World Cup will run Sept. 24-30.
The Homeless World Cup has become a recognized event on the global sporting calender. National teams made up of homeless and socially marginalised people from across the globe compete in a week-long street soccer tournament. National teams from Afghanistan, Argentina, China, Brazil, England, to the Ukraine, US and Australia, will battle it out on the Grand Parade.
Richard Ishmail, managing director of The Big Issue, urges any company who wishes to see their brand across South Africa and the rest of the world with an inspired, positive message to get into the Homeless World Cup while they can.
"The Homeless World Cup has proved that it can make a concrete difference in the lives of socially marginalised people," Ishmail said. "This is an opportunity for South African companies to get involved and help to kick off global poverty."
"The Homeless World Cup has proved yet again that sport, and in our case football, has enormous power to create real and lasting change," said Mel Young, co-founder and president of The Homeless World Cup. "This year the event will benefit over 10,000 players throughout the world. Seventy-seven percent of players change their lives forever as a result, which is quite extraordinary — this kind of change is previously unheard of — for the most disaffected people in the world who are usually cast aside and alienated by society."
A new social-impact study commissioned to assess the improvements in the lives of the players 10 months on from the 2005 Edinburgh Homeless World Cup reports the following significant, positive changes to their lives:
"The ability of sport, in particular football, to cross boundaries, inspire and to foster social cohesion is unparalleled. said Maria Bobenrieth, Corporate Responsibility Director for Nike Europe, Middle East and Africa, who have supported the tournament since its inception. "So when we had an opportunity to support what was then a somewhat whacky idea, but with huge potential to reach millions and to positively influence the lives of people in many countries, we jumped at the chance. Now a huge success, other sponsors should eagerly follow suit to allow thousands more to participate in the Cup."
Several world-class football teams support homeless World Cup teams. England is supported and coached by Manchester United and Spain has links with Real Madrid, Portugal with SL Benfica. Worldwide recognition for sport making a major positive impact on social exclusion has come from UEFA with the Monaco Cheque (previous winners include the Special Olympics and Football against Racism).
"It is a privilege for us to be associated with this global initiative and we hope that local businesses also see the opportunity to help kick off global poverty," said Ishmail. "The lasting value of their sponsorship will be seen in the formation of a street soccer league which will complement the training, social integration and job-creation work being done by organizations such as The Big Issue worldwide.
"In addition, we are hoping to announcement a long-term employment legacy which create sustainable jobs," Ishmail said. "The awareness and branding possibilities are endless and at the same time we are proving that by forming a community of support we can instigate real change."