Sport for development

Newsline

Palestinian children exercise their right to play at the 2008 Global Peace Games
WEST BANK, Occupied Palestinian Territory, 5 December 2008 – Hundreds of Palestinian children from various cities, villages and refugee camps came to Ramallah to celebrate Global Peace Day by exercising their right to play at the 2008 Global Peace Games for Children and Youth, held at Majed Al Asad stadium.

The Great Ethiopian Run raises fund for orphans and vulnerable children
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, 4 December 2008 - At the crack of dawn, 32,000 registered participants came together in Maskal Square to participate in Africa’s biggest 10 km road race – the Great Ethiopian Run. UNICEF and the Great Ethiopian Run have been partners for the past three years, committed to fighting HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia.

Sports support children’s reintegration into conflict-affected communities in Uganda
LIRA DISTRICT, Uganda, 29 September 2008 – During years of civil conflict in northern Uganda, schools were closed and entire communities were moved to safety in displacement camps. Now, with a fragile peace returning to Lira District, families are going back to their homes and schools are reopening.

UNICEF/Barcelona FC partnership has impact around the world
NEW YORK, USA, 22 August 2008 – In an international friendly exhibition game, UNICEF partner Barcelona Football Club last week defeated the New York Red Bulls by a score of 6-2 before a delirious crowd.

The power of football to improve young lives
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras, 11 August 2008 - When he scored against host country Spain in the 1982 FIFA Wold Cup, Héctor Zelaya grabbed the attention of football fans worldwide. Today, in his home country of Honduras, his influence on the lives of children is no less profound.

Goodwill Ambassador Kanu Nwankwo promotes ‘Football for Hope’ in Lagos, Nigeria
LAGOS, Nigeria, 6 August 2008 – In the township of Agege, hundreds of excited children gathered to meet Nigerian football star and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Nwankwo Kanu. Nwankwo’s appearance marked the end of the first phase of ‘Project Excel’ – a joint venture of FIFA’s ‘Football for Hope’, Search and Groom Youth Development Centre and UNICEF.

Manchester United stars and UNICEF team up against AIDS in Sierra Leone
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone, 26 June 2008 – Sierra Leone’s Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, Dr. Minkailu Bah, has launched a Manchester United-supported HIV/AIDS awareness campaign at the National Stadium in Freetown, the capital.

Rwandan children learn and play to celebrate Day of the African Child
KIGALI, Rwanda, 17 June 2008 – At sports events, school assemblies and cultural gatherings throughout the nation, children and adults celebrated the Day of the African Child this week. The continent-wide holiday commemorates the spirit of the South African children who sparked the Soweto uprising of 1976 – many of whom gave their lives.

Costa Rican children score a goal against adversity
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, 17 April 2008 – Under the theme ‘A goal against adversity’, 180 poor adolescents from all over the country met in the National Stadium of Costa Rica to participate in the Second Presidential Delegates Tournament. The event was held to promote child and adolescent rights, especially for children who are victims of abuse and exclusion.

Ghanaian footballer Stephen Appiah promotes education on surprise visit to former school
ACCRA, Ghana, 13 February – Stephen Appiah, one of the best known footballers in Ghana, made a surprise visit to his former primary school to emphasise the importance of education in this West African nation.

Youth reporters promote education during the MTN Africa Cup of Nations, GHANA 2008
ACCRA, Ghana, 1 February 2008 – Edith Asamani, 17 and Stephen Iseh, 14, are two of the youth reporters based in Accra who have joined UNICEF to raise awareness of the ‘Quality Education for All Children’ campaign during the MTN Africa Cup of Nations, GHANA 2008.

UNICEF and Confederation of African Football unite to promote quality education for all
UNICEF and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) have united in a joint campaign to harness the power of football during the MTN Africa Cup of Nations, GHANA 2008 – Africa’s biggest international football competition. The campaign seeks to promote quality education for all of Africa’s children.

In partnership with UNICEF, delegates from Fútbol Club Barcelona visit Swaziland
NKAMBENI, Swaziland, 13 December 2007 – A ball made from plastic bags is not among the usual equipment used by professional footballers. However, that didn’t stop members of the renowned Fútbol Club Barcelona from joining in a pickup game with children at a 'Neighbourhood Care Point' for orphans and vulnerable children during a two-day visit to Swaziland earlier this month.

Canadian driver Jacques Villeneuve makes NASCAR debut to support children
TORONTO, Canada, 8 October 2007 – NASCAR driver Jaques Villeneuve went the extra mile for UNICEF Canada yesterday, making his Nextel Cup debut at the famous Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama, USA. His Toyota Camry, car number 27, was wrapped in blue to represent UNICEF Canada.

UNICEF and Special Olympics partner in China to raise disability awareness
SHANGHAI, China, 3 October 2007 – Competitors from over 160 countries converged on Shanghai this week as the city offered up a glowing welcome for the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games.

Basketball star Sam Dalembert brings hope and encouragement to Haitian children
PORT-AU-PRINCE, 25 September 2007 – US National Basketball Association star and Philadelphia 76ers centre Samuel Dalembert has just completed a one-week visit to his native country, Haiti, where he spread the message of hope and encouragement to thousands of vulnerable children and women.

Footballer Marcel Desailly teaches girls in Ghana about success on and off the field
TAMALE CITY, Ghana, 26 September 2007 – Accomplished football player and Goodwill Ambassador Marcel Desailly recently visited the Northern Region of Ghana with UNICEF to encourage children, especially young girls, to play football and go to school.

ICC Twenty20 championship finals boost global AIDS campaign
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 24 September 2007 – The first-ever ICC Twenty20 competition came to a climax today, transforming the image of cricket and raising awareness about how children are affected by HIV and AIDS.

NBA star Samuel Dalembert returns home to Haiti to support UNICEF
On September 15th, Sam Dalembert, elite basketball star and Philadelphia 76ers centre, will return to his native country to learn more about UNICEF’s work in Haiti.

Cricket chief Malcolm Speed promotes ‘the power of sport’ to fight HIV/AIDS
CAPE TOWN, South Africa, 18 September 2007 – International Cricket Council (ICC) chief Malcolm Speed went to bat against HIV and AIDS at the weekend and challenged South African children to take up cricket.

FIFA-UNICEF campaign under way to break down gender barriers in schools
SHANGHAI, China, 13 September, 2007 – Eriko Arakawa, 27, fell in love with football at a very early age. “When I was five years old, I used to hear the sound of my older brother playing with his football – throwing it and dribbling it. I really liked that sound and I knew I wanted to play, too,” she recalls.

ICC Twenty 20 cricket contest goes to bat against AIDS
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 12 September 2007 – The worlds of cricket and AIDS prevention united for children yesterday at the start of the ICC World Twenty 20 tournament.

Guinea-Bissau school rehab programme: A better chance for girls and boys alike
CANCHUNGO, Guinea-Bissau, September 2007 – Isabel introduces herself very shyly: “My name is Isabel Luís Gomes. I am 15 years old and I always studied in the Cunha Gomes School. I am a sixth grade student. I should be almost finishing school, but unfortunately I was enrolled late.”

New Zealand cricketers visit ‘Little Champs’ in Johannesburg township
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 6 September 2007 – It was all song and dance as sporting heroes from the cricketing world arrived at the Little Champs Sports Academy in Alexandra township.

Goodwill Ambassador Marcel Desailly encourages children in Ghana to go to school
SAVELUGU/NANTON DISTRICT, Ghana, 5 September 2007 – UNICEF Ghana recently designated their very first Goodwill Ambassador: accomplished football player Marcel Desailly.

Cricket stars back global AIDS campaign
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 5 September 2007 – The world’s top cricket stars will support the Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS campaign at the ICC World Twenty 20 tournament in South Africa from 11-24 September.

Football helps girls in Brazil put exploitation behind them
OLINDA, Brazil, 31 August 2007 – For 15 years, UNICEF Brazil has supported the Environment and Citizenship Project here in the city of Olinda. Developed by the municipal government, the project offers sport- and music-related activities to girls and boys who have been involved in child labour or are in danger of being exploited.

Indian Ocean Games provide a platform for peer-to-peer education
ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar, 24 August 2007 – Madagascar has just finished playing host to the Indian Ocean Games, a regional version of the Olympics, which ended on 19 August.

In Japan, FC Barcelona raises AIDS awareness and support for children at risk
YOKOHAMA, Japan, 9 August 2007 – Thousands of FC Barcelona fans walked into Nissan Stadium earlier this week dressed in their team jerseys, eager to see football stars such as Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto’o and the squad’s latest addition, Thierry Henry, in action.

Child-friendly schools give hope to a young girl in El Alto, Bolivia
EL ALTO, Bolivia, 6 August 2007 – Mariela Mamani lives in Villa Tunari, one of the most populous areas in El Alto, Bolivia. In the vast neighborhoods that seem pressed into the soil of the high plain, it is easy to get lost.

After the Copa América, Venezuelan children relive the joy of a dream come true
MARACAIBO, Venezuela, 19 July 2007 – During this year’s Copa América, the oldest football tournament in the world, more than 570 Venezuelan children had a chance to take the field hand-in-hand with their favorite football players.

NBA star and Goodwill Ambassador Pau Gasol visits HIV-affected children in Angola
MADRID/LUANDA, Angola, 18 July 2007 — US National Basketball Association superstar and UNICEF Spain Goodwill Ambassador Pau Gasol recently visited Angola to see firsthand the country’s fight against HIV/AIDS and UNICEF’s programmes to support children and families affected by the disease.

In South Africa, FC Barcelona and friendly rivals score new goals for children
PRETORIA, South Africa , 22 June 2007 – There was Spanish flamenco dancing, African drumming and the unique trumpeting of the South African ‘vuvuzela’ or air horn – called football’s beautiful noise here.

ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 hits a six for children affected by AIDS
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, 30 April 2007 – As the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 drew to a close, the battle to help children affected by AIDS gathered new momentum thanks to the unique partnership between the International Cricket Council, UNICEF, UNAIDS and the Caribbean Broadcast Media Partnership on HIV/AIDS.

England’s bowler Stuart Broad visits UNICEF project at Barbados primary school
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, 13 April 2007 – Students participating in the Hillaby Turner’s Hall Primary School Positive Lifestyle Cricket Fest were recently given a special treat. One of the English cricket team’s fast bowlers, Stuart Broad, took part in their inter-school cricket competition.

ICC top umpire and most experienced Match Referee call foul on AIDS stigma
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, 13 April 2007 – Sport is a great leveller that allows people to take part in healthy, life-enhancing activities. But sadly, that is not the case for people living with HIV and AIDS – especially children. Each day young people with HIV suffer the stigma associated with the disease and are marginalized in all parts of their lives, including sports.

South African match referee meets with young HIV/AIDS activists in Antigua
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, 10 April 2007 – Mike Procter, a former member of the South African cricket team and current International Cricket Council (ICC) Match Referee, officiated at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 matches played in Antigua over the past two weeks.

Young Malaysian footballers go on the offensive against HIV and AIDS
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, 10 April 2007 – Shawn Daniels, 16, holds a teammate in a headlock, refusing to let go. Instead of coming to the aid of Shawn’s captive, the rest of the team looks on and laughs.

West Indies cricket team receives warm welcome from young cricket players in Guyana
TIMEHRI, Guyana, 3 April 2007 – Under banners proclaiming Unite for Children Unite against AIDS, young cricketers from across Guyana welcomed the West Indies cricket team as they arrived at Cheddi Jagan International Airport in Timehri last week.

South African cricket team visits community health centre in Guyana
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, 2 April 2007 – "Every wicket counts in cricket and it's the same with the fight against HIV and AIDS. Everybody's contribution makes a difference," said UNAIDS Country Coordinator for Guyana and Suriname, Dr. Ruben del Prado. He spoke during a visit by members of the South African cricket team to the Dorothy Bailey Health Centre in Georgetown.

Irish cricketer visits Jamaican programme for people with disabilities
SPANISH TOWN, Jamaica, 28 March 2007 - In the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007, Ireland is probably the team that best knows what it is to beat the odds. Having prevailed over Pakistan and tied with Zimbabwe during the group stage matches, they made their first-ever ICC Cricket World Cup appearance.

New Zealand cricketer encourages Antiguan youths
ANTIGUA, 27 March 2007 – As the New Zealand cricket team began their workouts in Antigua for the Super Eight round of the ICC World Cup 2007, Blackcap Ross Taylor visited local youths involved in the UNICEF-sponsored Health and Family Life Education Programme here.

Australian cricketers visit teen mother programme in St. Kitts
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, 23 March 2007 – Australian cricketers visited a teen mother programme here as part of the ICC Cricket World Cup alliance between the International Cricket Council, UNAIDS, UNICEF and the Caribbean Broadcast Media Partnership on HIV/AIDS.

Bangladesh and Bermuda cricketers stamp out HIV/AIDS stigma
ARANGUEZ, Trinidad, 23 March 2007 – ICC World Cup 2007 cricketers from Bangladesh and Bermuda teamed up with children and young people in Trinidad on Thursday to help break the stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS.

Sri Lankan cricketer treats Trinidadian children to ICC Cricket World Cup 2007
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, 22 March 2007 – Wednesday was a special day for the children of the Cyril Ross Nursery in Tunapuna, just outside the Trinidadian capital, Port of Spain. The Nursery is well known in Trinidad as home to 38 children – 36 of them living with HIV.

Indian cricket star brings message of hope to Trinidad youths
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, 21 March 2007 – They came from all over the community of Gonzales – schoolchildren, local residents, young cricketers and youth groups – drawn to a playing field for a visit from one of the greatest batsmen of all time, India’s Sachin Tendulkar.

Netherlands cricketers support AIDS awareness in St. Kitts
ST. KITTS, Eastern Caribbean, 21 March 2007 – Two members of the Netherlands cricket team showed their support for the global Unite for Children. Unite against AIDS campaign on Tuesday by visiting two day care centres in St. Kitts, one of the islands hosting the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007.

Zimbabwean cricket star visits Jamaican youth centre
KINGSTON, Jamaica, 19 March 2007 – Following an impressive knock of 67 runs against Ireland in a match that ended in a thrilling tie at Jamaica’s Sabina Park, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Zimbabwe’s opening batsman, took time off on Friday to do the other thing he enjoys – helping children.

Sri Lankan cricket star brings a message of hope to children in Trinidad
TUNAPUNA, Trinidad, 19 March 2007 – “Hi Uncle Kumar,” shouted the children of the Cyril Ross Nursery as they welcomed Sri Lankan cricket star Kumar Sangakkara to their home here, just outside Port of Spain, Trinidad.

Scottish cricket players visit St. Kitts teens involved in HIV/AIDS prevention project
ST. KITTS, 19 March 2007 – It has often been said that youth hold the solutions to many of the problems that they face.

Kenyan and Canadian cricketers visit Boys’ Training Centre in St. Lucia
CASTRIES, St. Lucia, 16 March 2007 – Twenty-seven young boys living away from their homes and families – some abused or abandoned, others in conflict with the law – got a special treat when cricketers from the Kenyan and Canadian teams took time from their busy schedules to visit the UNICEF-supported Boys’ Training Centre in Gros Islet, St. Lucia, where the boys stay.

Cricket CEO visits project promoting safe sex and abstinence in Jamaica
KINGSTON, Jamaica, 15 March 2007 – Seven weeks of competition in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 began on Tuesday with a victory by the West Indies over Pakistan in front of a record crowd of over 16,000 at Jamaica’s Sabina Park.

United against AIDS at the opening of the ICC Cricket World Cup in Jamaica
KINGSTON, Jamaica, 12 March 2007 – The worldwide audience that watched the opening ceremony of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup 2007 on Sunday witnessed a defining moment in sport.

ICC cricket mascot Mello tours Guyana to raise AIDS awareness
NEW YORK, USA, 9 March 2007 – Mello, the official mascot of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007, arrived at Guyana’s Timehri International Airport recently, greeted by the sounds of traditional Caribbean steel drum music and a throng of young fans.

ICC Cricket World Cup begins, highlighting the needs of children affected by AIDS
NEW YORK, USA, 12 March 2007 – Cricket’s largest and most prestigious event, the ICC Cricket World Cup, officially kicked off in Jamaica this weekend with a colourful ceremony featuring 10,000 spectators and over 2,000 performers.

Uganda Kids League in exhibition match with FC Barcelona cadet team
BARCELONA, Spain, 2 February 2007 – Amongst the TV cameras and photographers, 16 boys from Uganda shivered in the cold and rain but waited patiently. When the moment arrived, they walked out onto the pitch in Camp Nou – the stadium of Football Club Barcelona – and the crowd roared in appreciation.

On World AIDS Day, children inspire new partnerships to fight HIV
NEW YORK, USA, 30 November 2006 – Twenty-five years after the first case of AIDS was recorded, the impact of the disease on children and young people is inspiring creative new partnerships to create an HIV-free generation.

Sports programme helps children fight AIDS and abuse in Zimbabwe
MUTARE, Zimbabwe, 9 November 2006 – Betty Mahomva, 9, ties her hair into a ponytail, stretches her legs and concentrates. She and her classmates are playing a game, but they are also learning an important lesson – how to avoid HIV/AIDS.

Tennis ace Serena Williams supports Ghana’s biggest health campaign
NUNGUA-ZONGO, Ghana, 6 November 2006 – For families across Ghana, yesterday was the day to get their young children immunized against deadly childhood diseases, boost their immunity against illness and receive free mosquito nets to help prevent malaria. It was the conclusion of the country’s week-long national integrated child health campaign, the largest such effort in Ghana to date.

South African cricketers instil hope in the lives of Indian children affected by HIV
AHMEDABAD, India, 27 October 2006 – South African cricket players Shaun Pollock, AB De Villiers, Andrew Hall and Jonty Rohdes recently visited India – not to play cricket games, but to spend time with children affected by HIV.

Goodwill Ambassador Roger Federer’s ‘Feder-bear’ makes its debut
NEW YORK, USA, 8 September 2006 – With his bid for a third consecutive U.S. Open championship in full swing, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Roger Federer has served up an ace for children everywhere. ATP, governing body of professional tennis, has announced that the ‘Feder-bear’ Beanie Baby® will be available for purchase this holiday season.

FC Barcelona-UNICEF alliance kicks off with help for children affected by HIV
NEW YORK, USA, 7 September 2006 – Futbol Club Barcelona kicked off a new global alliance with UNICEF today at a press conference in New York. The partnership, benefiting children across the developing world, will focus on those affected by HIV/AIDS in Swaziland during its first year.

On tour to raise AIDS awareness, Manchester United players meet Nelson Mandela
LONDON, England, 20 July 2006 – Manchester United team manager and UNICEF UK Ambassador Sir Alex Ferguson and his squad met with former South African President Nelson Mandela at the offices of the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg yesterday.

Children are the real World Cup winners
NEW YORK, USA, 10 July 2006 – Children around the world joined Italy in celebrating victory at the 2006 FIFA World Cup on Sunday.

Football brings welcome relief for young people in Iraq
NEW YORK, USA, 7 July 2006 – Despite the violence and chaos that have plagued Iraq in recent years (not to mention the sporadic supply of electricity), Iraqi football fans have been riveted by TV broadcasts of the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

UNICEF supports ‘No to Racism Days’ campaign at the 2006 FIFA World Cup
BERLIN, Germany, 28 June 2006 – As football fans around the world took two days off from the excitement and the spirit of competition at the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany, UNICEF and FIFA – along with prominent members of the German Government and world sporting associations – met at the Olympic Stadium in the German capital to decry racial divisiveness.

Angolan World Cup players back child immunization drive
LUANDA, Angola, 21 June 2006 – With excitement about the 2006 FIFA World Cup at a peak, Angolan star players are among the most recognizable role models here, inspiring a sense of achievement much appreciated in this war-ravaged country.

NBA and UNICEF promote AIDS education through sports in China
SHANGHAI, China, 20 June 2006 – UNICEF has teamed up with the National Basketball Association (NBA) to distribute HIV/AIDS education materials in sports kits to schools in seven provinces in China.

Team UNICEF scores in opening days of 2006 FIFA World Cup
MUNICH, Germany, 12 June 2006 – The majority of Costa Rican fans attending the 2006 FIFA World Cup opening match on Friday may have occupied just a corner of Munich’s football stadium, but their voices resonated beyond the pitch when 'Team UNICEF' player Paolo Wanchope of Costa Rica scored two goals.

The power of football: UNICEF and FIFA unite for children
NEW YORK, USA, 9 June 2006 – UNICEF and FIFA kicked off the 2006 FIFA World Cup today, calling on football fans around the world to UNITE FOR CHILDREN  UNITE FOR PEACE.

UK ‘Soccer Aid’ charity event raises more than £2 million for UNICEF
NEW YORK, USA, 5 June 2006 – A charity soccer match in England has raised more than £2 million ($3.7 million) for UNICEF after 72,000 soccer fans poured into Old Trafford stadium, home of Manchester United, to watch two celebrity teams in action.

Malaysian women’s futsal tournament promotes healthy living
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, 22 May 2006 – For hundreds of girls and women from all over Malaysia, the ‘3R’-UNICEF All Women’s Futsal Playoffs were a chance to meet and share stories, build self-esteem and, of course, compete in the largest women’s-only futsal (indoor football) tournament in Malaysia.

Girl’s football programme scores hit against HIV in Kenya
NAIROBI, Kenya, 12 May 2006 – Africa’s biggest youth sports organization is taking a leading role in educating girls about HIV/AIDS. Backed by UNICEF, the Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA) helps them develop life skills and provides information on how to stop the disease from spreading.

Carl Lewis jump-starts ‘School without Violence’ campaign in Serbia
BELGRADE, Serbia, 10 May 2006 – Track-and-field legend and nine-time Olympic Gold Medal winner Carl Lewis joined UNICEF in Serbia during this year’s recent Belgrade Marathon to promote the country’s ‘School without Violence’ programme.

UNICEF and FIFA’s ‘Teenagers Always Win!’ campaign: a success in Peru
LIMA, 5 October 2005 – The ‘Teenagers Always Win!’ campaign, an alliance between UNICEF and FIFA – international football’s governing body – ended on Saturday, 1 October 2005. FIFA President Joseph Blatter and UNICEF’s Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Nils Kastberg, brought the campaign to a close with an entertaining and informal discussion attended by teenagers selected from the different venues where the Under-17 World Cup was played.

Basketball camp builds a better future
NEW YORK, 1 September 2005 – They came from 30 counties across Europe. 50 of the continent’s most promising under-18 basketball players gathered in the northern Italian city of Treviso - just outside Venice - to participate in Basketball without Borders.

UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy to address 10th World Sport for All Congress
NEW YORK/ROME, 11 November 2004 – UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy is in Rome, Italy to address the 10th World Sport for All Congress. The main theme of the Congress is ‘Sport for all as a tool for education and development’.

Manchester United stars speak out for children in UNICEF TV campaign
Monday 8 November, 2004 - Manchester United soccer players, displaying their continued commitment to UNICEF, recorded a series of Public Service Announcements (PSAs) aimed at delivering key messages regarding UNICEF’s priority for all children across the world.

2005: Year of Sport
NEW YORK, 5 November 2004 - Today in a press conference at the United Nations, the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan announced that the UN General Assembly has designated 2005 as the International Year of Sport and Physical Education and unveiled plans for a year-long push to highlight the power of sport to bridge cultural and ethnic divides and improve people’s lives.

International Badminton Federation joins forces with UNICEF
LAUSANNE, 19 October 2004 – The International Badminton Federation (IBF) and UNICEF are pleased to announce the launch of their new global alliance. The new partnership between IBF and UNICEF was officially unveiled on 5 October at the International Olympic Committee Headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Real lives
NEW YORK, 19 October 2004 – In the tiny East African nation of Djibouti, almost every boy plays football. But cultural traditions do not encourage girls to participate in sports. Therefore it is very unusual to find a young girl who avidly plays football. Deka, who started playing football at the age of three, is one such girl.

Football fights AIDS and drug abuse
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan/NEW YORK, 20 September 2004 – Under the slogan “Kyrgyz Young Football Players Against Drugs and HIV/AIDS,” the final of the Kyrgyz President’s Cup 2004 – the biggest young people’s football tournament in Kyrgyzstan – brought to a conclusion a successful campaign to raise public awareness of key issues for young people. A key goal of the campaign was to stimulate action to help create a healthy environment for young people, allowing them to develop to their full potential.

Football spurs girls’ education in West Bengal
NEW DELHI, India, 1 September 2004 – FIFA, the international football governing body, is donating 65 sports-in-a-box kits to the UNICEF West Bengal office to help support girls’ education and their right to play. Girls in most villages have hardly ever participated in outdoor sports; they will now have the opportunity to form teams and play football regularly.

Gold Medal for “Champions for Children’s Rights”
ATHENS/NEW YORK, 13 August 2004 – UNICEF, in cooperation with the Athens 2004 Olympic Organizing Committee (ATHOC) is providing an opportunity for 450 young athletes to become ‘Champions for Children’s Rights’, during the 16-day Olympic Youth Camps being held at the Olympic Games.

Asian girls scoring high during Asia Cup
COLOMBO, 27 July 2004 – Girls in South Asia are scoring high as cricket fans celebrate their team’s successes by waving ‘Fair Play for Girls’ placards, during this year’s Asia Cup.

Young champion to carry Olympic flame in Moscow
MOSCOW, 3 July 2004 – Sergei Pavlov, 16, today becomes the second of the three torchbearers selected by UNICEF to participate in the global Athens 2004 Olympic Torch Relay, as the Relay visits Moscow.

Real lives
Hayablé (Balbala) – Southern suburb of Djibouti’s capital city, June 2004- Born into a family of 9 siblings, Fatouma Osman is 23 years old. She is one of the few girls in her neighborhood who are into sports in general, soccer in particular.

Newsline
LIMA, 22 June 2004 - A few days before the start of the America Cup/Peru 2004, the organizers, the official sponsors and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) announced jointly that Peruvian children would be among the big winners of this sporting event.  With a campaign entitled ¡Con los niños sí se gana! (You Win with Children!), UNICEF and the South American Soccer Federation (CONMEBOL) have agreed to dedicate the Copa América 2004 to the children of the host country, Peru, though a series of activities designed to guarantee good soccer by promoting child development.

Child labour activist runs in Olympic Torch Relay
This is the story of Núbia, one of three torchbearers selected by UNICEF to participate in the global 2004 Olympic Torch Relay.

 

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