50.000 fans var på stadion til “Match Against Poverty” med Ronaldo og Zidane i Porto Alegre i Brasilien,arrangeret af UNDP. Udbyttet blev 360.000 dollars til to ungdomsprojekter – et i Brasilien og et på Kap Verde-øerne ved Afrika, fortæller UNDP i en pressemeddelelse.
The announcement was made (8.January) after all proceeds from ticket sales, broadcast rights, and sponsorships from the 19 December event were received. More than 50,000 fans filled the Gremio Arena Stadium in Porto Alegre where Ronaldo’s XI beat Zidane’s 3-2.
Proceeds from the 10th Match in Brazil will be evenly split between two projects – one in Brazil and one in Cape Verde, West Africa, both aimed at re-integrating marginalized youth. In Brazil, proceeds will fund the “Rede Esporte para Mudança Social (REMS)” a project that promotes poverty reduction and social inclusion through sports. In Cape Verde, an island nation off the coast of West Africa, UNDP will work with Afro Reggae, a Brazilian non-governmental organization, to improve education amongst marginalized youth.
“We are delighted by the support for the people of Brazil and Cape Verde,” said Rebeca Grynspan, Under Secretary General of the UN and UNDP Associate Administrator. “We are proud that UNDP’s 10th Match Against Poverty provides the opportunity for the public to participate in the fight against poverty and exclusion.”
Ronaldo’s team included Zico, Bebeto, Dida, Cafu, Roberto Carlos, Juninho Paulista, Leandro Damiao and Paulinho – all from Brazil. Zidane’s team included Vitor Baia and Fernando Couto of Portugal, Falcao, Juliano Belletti, Diego Cavalieri, and Emerson from Brazil as well as Fernando Hierro and Michel Salgado of Spain, Juan Pablo Sorin of Argentina, Paolo Montero of Uruguay, Paraguay’s Carlos Gamarra, Nakata from Japan, Fredrik Ljungberg of Sweden and Christian Karembeu from France.
Zidane as UNDP Godwill Ambassador
“Every time we get together for this match we can help and make a difference,” said UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Zinédine Zidane.
“We are very happy with the results of this edition, and we look forward to hearing about the results from the projects in Brasil and Cape Verde that will benefit.” echoed UNDP Ambassador and team mate Ronaldo.
The annual match – which was televised globally – is supported by both football’s governing body, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).
The Match in Porto Alegre follows nine successful editions that took place in Basel, Madrid, Dusseldorf, Marseille, Málaga, Fez, Lisboa, Athens and Hamburg. Each year funds raised support specific development projects in different countries around the world. Proceeds from the matches have contributed to sustainable solutions to alleviate poverty in 29 developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
