AUSTRALIAN SOCCEROOS STARS GET BEHIND THE MELBOURNE 2008 HOMELESS WORLD CUP

AUSTRALIAN SOCCEROOS STARS GET BEHIND THE MELBOURNE 2008 HOMELESS WORLD CUP 

Lucas Neill (West Ham FC), Jason Culina (PSV Eindhoven), Luke Wilkshire (Dynamo Moscow FC), David Carney (Sheffield United FC), Brett Emerton (Blackburn FC), Scott McDonald (Celtic FC) and Archie Thompson (Melbourne Victory FC) lend their support.

Australia’s Socceroos stars have thrown their support behind the sixth annual Homeless World Cup which kicks off in Melbourne this Monday and are urging all Australians to come out and show their support for the unsung heroes of this life-changing event.

”The Homeless World Cup is not just a tournament - it’s an opportunity for people to change their lives. I urge everybody to get behind the teams, spur them onto victory, and help them give themselves a fresh start,” Socceroos Captain, Lucas Neill said.

Australia will be one of up to 56 countries competing in the annual international football tournament which uses the power of sport to transform the lives of homeless and marginalised people around the world.

The Australian team, known as the Street Socceroos, will enjoy the support of a home crowd when the Homeless World Cup heads to Australia for the first time, kicking off from 1-7 December at Federation Square and Birrarung Marr.

Socceroos stars lending their support to the campaign are Lucas Neill, Jason Culina, Luke Wilkshire, David Carney, Brett Emerton, Scott McDonald and Archie Thompson. They have recorded personal messages which will be played throughout the tournament on Federation Square’s big screen and at www.homelessworldcup.org

Champion Socceroo Jason Culina, praised the event, saying: “The Homeless World Cup unites homeless people from around the globe and gives them the opportunity to play the greatest game in the world – football”.

In addition to a great sporting spectacle, the Homeless World Cup has a long-lasting impact on the players involved. Over 70 percent of players significantly change their lives for the better, including finding accommodation and employment, coming off drugs and alcohol and reconnecting with their families.

Up to 56 nations, including eight all-female teams participating in the first ever Women’s Homeless World Cup, will play a total of 349 matches over the week-long tournament

Matches will be played on three purpose-built stadiums at Federation Square and Birrarung Marr, including a spectacular grandstand with viewing capacity for 2500 people right in the heart of Federation Square.

Fast and furious street soccer matches run from 11am - 7pm daily. Entry to the event is free.

The final will be screened live on SBS TV on Sunday December 7. ABC Radio will broadcast the Homeless World Cup tournament nationally over the final weekend. 

For more information visit www.homelessworldcup.org and to make a donation visit www.justgiving.com/homelessworldcupfoundation.



Notes to Editors

About Homeless World Cup: www.homelessworldcup.org
The Homeless World Cup is a world-class international football tournament that has triggered and supports grass roots football programmes in over 60 nations engaging 30,000 players who are homeless all year round.
At the 6th Homeless World Cup in Melbourne 1-7 December 2008, 56 nations will be united for a tournament that includes the first women’s cup and a legacy of 30 street soccer programmes rolled out by The Big Issue in Australia.
The inaugural Homeless World Cup kicked off in Graz, Austria uniting 18 nations. Since then it has gained great momentum in Gothenburg, Sweden (2004), Edinburgh, Scotland (2005), Cape Town, South Africa (2006) and Copenhagen, Denmark (2007). It will visit Milan in 2009.

Founded by world-leading social entrepreneur Mel Young, the Homeless World Cup is supported by UEFA, Nike, The Vodafone Foundation, Global Ambassador Eric Cantona and international footballers Didier Drogba and Rio Ferdinand.

For more information please contact:

Kat Byles
Homeless World Cup
Communications Director
+44 (0)7901 701 334
 kat@homelessworldcup.org

 
For media enquiries in Melbourne contact Sandra Del Monaco on 0400 404 706 or Lisa Schillaci on 0417 362 509