Cape Town 2006 Homeless World Cup Doubles Impact

CAPE TOWN 2006 HOMELESS WORLD CUP DOUBLES IMPACT

• 73% of players involved in the Cape Town 2006 Homeless World Cup report a significant life change
• 92% have new motivation for life
• Impact high as tournament doubles in size

15 June 2007, Research published today into the social impact of the Cape Town 2006 Homeless World Cup, the world-class annual football tournament changing lives, reveals a significant impact on the lives of the participants. The impact remains significant as the tournament doubled in size to 48 nations, 394 players:

∑ 92% players have a new motivation for life
∑ 73% have changed their lives for the better
∑ 93 players successfully addressed a drug or alcohol dependency
∑ 35% have secured regular employment
∑ 44% have improved their housing situation
∑ 39% chose to pursue education
∑ 72% continue to play football

African footballer of the Year, Didier Drogba, Chelsea FC, is a strong supporter of the impact of the tournament: “The Homeless World Cup is an event that can change the life of anyone, not simply to help them become a professional footballer, but so that they can become a man, in everyday life, developing values, human values, which I think are very important.”

Players from the Cape Town 2006 Homeless World Cup spoke out in support for the tournament and their life-changing experience.  Kevin Garrigan, 24, England now signed by Ryhope CW, a semi-pro club, said: "If you get the opportunity, take it as it can change your life."

Cherie Kpenneh Sayon, 19, now an example to other young women living on the streets in Liberia, said: "The Homeless World Cup has given me opportunities I never would have had. Young girls now want to be like me and get on in their lives too."

Mel Young, President, Homeless World Cup said: “Cape Town 2006 was the first time we held a Homeless World Cup in Africa, bringing 13 African nations to the tournament. We doubled in size to include 48 nations, involving an estimated 17,000 people in pre-tournament training and trials around the world.

“With this phenomenal growth we are extremely pleased to see that the impact remains consistent, positive and significant. Once again sport demonstrating the tremendous power it has to change lives.

“It is the players, their dignity and their courage to take the opportunity to represent their country and go on a life-changing journey that makes the Homeless World Cup such an incredible sporting event uniting a community of thousands around the world.  We can’t wait to see players standing proud in Copenhagen this summer.”

48 nations, up from 3 in 2003, now hold national selections and trials for their Homeless World Cup teams and with 31 having set up or in the process of setting up street leagues making football available to excluded and homeless players all year round. This is reaching an estimated 25,000 players in the run up to Copenhagen 29 July – 4 August 2007.

The Homeless World Cup aims to involve 100,000 players a year by 2010 and is inviting fans around the world join the fan club and help make this happen: www.homelessworldcup.org/fanclub

ENDS

For more information and a full copy of the Cape Town 2006 Homeless World Cup Impact Report contact:

Kat Byles, Homeless World Cup Mobile: +44 (0)7901 701 33 | Email: kat@homelessworldcup.org | Skype: Katbyles

NOTES TO EDITORS

About the Homeless World Cup
The Homeless World Cup is an annual, international football tournament, uniting teams of people who are homeless and excluded from around the world to change their lives for the better. It also supports and inspires grass roots football projects around the world working with homeless and excluded people throughout the year. 48 nations, 500 players will take a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent their country for true grit, spirit and glory at the 5th Homeless World Cup in Copenhagen from 29 July – 4 August 2007.
73% of players change their lives for the better after participating by coming off drugs and alcohol, moving into jobs, education, homes, training, reuniting with families and even going on to become players and coaches for pro or semi-pro football teams.

The Homeless World Cup was co-founded by world leading social entrepreneur Mel Young and Harald Schmied at the Annual International Network of Street Papers Conference (INSP) in Cape Town in 2001. The Ministry of Social Affairs, City of Copenhagen and Ombold are the hosts the Copenhagen 2007 Homeless World Cup. UEFA, International Network of Street Papers, Nike are international partners.

Log on to www.homelessworldcup.org for more information.


Nations participating at the Copenhagen 2007 Homeless World Cup:
48 Nations One Goal

Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Lithuania, Mexico, Namibia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Scotland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Uganda, Ukraine, USA, Wales, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Cape Town 2006 Homeless World Cup Success
Research carried out amongst the players involved in the Cape Town 2006 Homeless World Cup revealed
∑ 92% have a new motivation for life  (342 players)
∑ 72% play football after the Homeless World Cup on regular basis (268 players)
∑ 89% have improved social relations (331 players)
∑ 73% have changed their lives for the better (272 players)
∑ 35% have secured regular employment (130 players)
∑ 44% have improved their housing situation (164 players)
∑ 39% chose to pursue education (145 players)
∑ 93 addressed a drug or alcohol dependency
∑ The number of African nations participating leapt to 13
∑ 16 female players represented their country
∑ All 48 nations held national qualifications or selections
∑ 31 nations run or plan to develop a national street league for social inclusion projects after the Cape Town 2006 Homeless World Cup
∑ An estimated 17,000 players were involved in pre-tournament training and trials

Homeless World Cup Supporters

DIDIER DROGBA, CHELSEA
"It’s an event that can change the life of anyone, not simply to help them become a professional footballer, but so that they can become a man, in everyday life. So that they can develop with regard to today’s society, which is not an easy society for everyone and that means above all developing values, human values, which I think are very important."

RINGO STARR, THE BEATLES
"The Homeless World Cup brings thousands of players a phenomenal once in a lifetime opportunity to play football for their country and change their lives forever. The determination and tremendous human spirit expressed as they have the courage to take this opportunity and over come obstacles to create a new world, is true inspiration for us all.  This is a powerful experience they will carry with them forever and never look back.  They are real stars.  Get into the Homeless World Cup. Participate in sport changing the world."

SIR ALEX FERGUSON, MANAGER MANCHESTER UNITED
“This is the fourth year that Manchester United has worked with The Big Issue in the North on the Homeless World Cup project and we are happy to be involved again.  The previous years’ events have shown that football is a powerful tool in changing people’s lives, and it’s great that we can play a part in that.”

RIO FERDINAND, MANCHESTER UNITED
“You love football. But how do you train if you’re homeless? How do you travel to compete if you don’t have a passport? Football’s for everyone. Get into the Homeless World Cup. I do.”

LUIS FIGO
“Exactly when the chaos comes into our life, is when we must never lose hope, we must never lose faith in holy love and wisdom. If we have faith, small that it is... one day... it goes to help us to transform our life. My life is an example of this! And one of the ways to show my gratitude is to extend and to share, when I can, my luck, with those who need it. Because I believe that this way, we will be able to create a happier, more just society. As my art is in my feet and not in my hands, it is with much honor that I associate the power of soccer to this noble, social cause, in a year that marks Portugal’s third participation in the Homeless World Cup.”

Homeless World Cup International Partners

UEFA
By adopting a flexible and clear social responsibility policy, UEFA is supporting the belief that football should be used as a force for broader benefit within society, using its potential to influence attitudes and behaviour beyond the confines of the stadium. Since 1999, UEFA re-invests fines imposed in UEFA competitions for specific purposes such as humanitarian aid, social and educational projects. The Homeless World Cup receives UEFA support because it has a strong link with football, has a set of clearly defined goals and successfully develops the use of football as a tool for fostering inclusion.  

INSP
The International Network of Street Papers (INSP), which works closely with the Homeless World Cup, today comprises more than 80 street papers in 31 countries, from South Africa to Russia and from Germany to Brazil, with a combined annual circulation of over 32 million.  The organisation, based in Scotland, was set up in 1994 to promote the concept of street papers as a means to address homelessness, social exclusion and poverty in society. Street paper organisations help homeless and poor people by providing them with a quality newspaper or magazine to sell on the streets, as well as a range of tailored social support programmes.

NIKE
Nike continues its support of the Homeless World Cup as a title sponsor for 2007, providing cash and product to support the event and the players. The company has been involved with the event since it began in 2003 as part of its drive to bring Nike business innovation to global efforts that leverage the power of sport in the lives of excluded youth. Nike believes that access to sport and play is essential for all young people, and when youth engage in sport, it can lead to personal empowerment as well as broad social change. To support this belief, the company’s community investments focus where youth are excluded due to poverty, natural disaster or conflict, and work to build partnerships in the context of support and programs that may already be in place in these communities. For more information about Nike, visit www.nikebiz.com.

HANNAH JONES, VICE PRESIDENT OF CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY AT NIKE
“When we were first approached with the possibility of supporting the Homeless World Cup, we recognized it was a huge opportunity, but full of challenges. In the beginning we didn’t know it would become the remarkable success story it has, and affect so many people’s lives for the better. But we believed in Mel, saw that the program had huge potential for positive social change among millions of people from many countries, and knew that it wanted to use sport -- football -- to get there. We believe that ‘if you have a body you’re an athlete,’ and we love the fact that the many reasons the beautiful game is so popular for such diverse groups of athletes are the same reasons why it has the power to inspire discipline, tolerance, and greatness – not only among the legends on the field but for every athlete.”