Milano wins 2009 Homeless World Cup
Posted on 29/05/2008
It is publicly announced today at 2pm that Milan, Italy has won the bid to host the 2009 Homeless
World Cup. 64 nations, 700 players will be united in the heart of the
Italian football capital, Sempione Park, in September 2009.
The successful bid was awarded to a collaboration of Milan City Council, Milan Provincial Council, Italian Football Federation, Inter FC, Politecnico and Bocconi Universities, Terre di Mezzo street paper plus not for profit Organisations, professional fundraisers, social entrepreneurs and sportspeople, in a strong demonstration that the passion of Italy married with the power of football can change lives, can change the world.
Mel Young, President, Homeless World Cup announcing the decision to award Milan the 2009 Homeless World Cup said: “Passion and heart shone through the Italian bid: passion to resolve homelessness; passion for football; passion to host the best ever Homeless World Cup. To end homeless in the world, yes we need strategy, yes we need policy, but at the end of the day people must have the passion to end homelessness for it to happen.”
Massimo Acanfora, President, “Milano, Myland” thanking the Homeless World Cup said: Milano, Myland’ means Milan, everybody’s city”. In 2009 Milan will be the European Capital of Sport. The Homeless World Cup is much more than a sport tournament. With this Milan also has a chance to be the capital of tolerance, the capital of welcome, the capital of social care.”
Italy won the Homeless World Cup in Gothenburg 2004 and Edinburgh 2005. Italy is represented by “Nuova Multietnica”, a football team born in a Romany camp on the periphery of Milan and now composed of a multiethnic group, lead by Bogdan Kwappik, a Polish trainer.
Photo credit: Filippo Podestà
