Photo: F. Espinoza
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FIFA Communications Director Markus Siegler and the manager of the German SOS Children's Village national association HGFD (Hermann-Gmeiner-Fonds Deutschland), Georg Willeit, presented the joint charity campaign at a press conference in Frankfurt on Tuesday. SOS Children's Villages were also presented as the official FIFA charity partner for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany.
The "6 Villages for 2006" campaign, which aims to collect donations for the construction of one new SOS Children's Village on every "football" continent, was launched only days ahead of the Qualification Draw for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany.
"With the help of friends, soccer fans, celebrities and sponsors, we want to collect donations for the construction of six new SOS Children's Villages," said Willeit. "For the organisers of the World Cup and for all those who will have contributed donations for the six new villages, this will be a world champion achievement."
Franz Beckenbauer (left) and HGFD Executive Director Georg Willeit - Photo: W. Kehl
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Franz Beckenbauer, President of the local Organising Committee, mentioned his own very close relationship to SOS Children's Villages. His comment on the "6 Villages for 2006" campaign: "There is nothing more beautiful in the world than giving children a home. Therefore my compliment to the FIFA for their partnership with SOS Children's Villages."
Prior to the preliminary draw, FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter said: "SOS Children's Villages and its excellent reputation are in line with the official slogan: "A time to make friends". FIFA has 204 national associations organised in six confederations. Therefore we agreed with SOS Children's Villages to build six new villages so that every FIFA-continent will have a new SOS Children's Village", Blatter explained.
The "6 Villages for 2006" campaign will be launched in Germany but also enjoys the support of other SOS Children's Village national associations worldwide - particularly those in the various football-enthusiastic countries in Latin America and Europe.
Photo: K. Snozzi
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The German SOS Children's Village association HGFD is planning a whole range of charity activities, addressing both soccer enthusiasts and celebrities. Some 50 former and current soccer stars, such as Thomas Helmer, Krassimir Balakov, Alexandr Hleb and Kubilay Turkyilmaz, have served as "FIFA for SOS Children's Villages Ambassadors" and will continue doing so. Other soccer stars have also expressed their interest in supporting SOS Children's Villages.
The partnership between FIFA and SOS Children's Villages officially began in 1995. FIFA both supports children in the care of SOS Children's Villages, and promotes its work to their extensive worldwide soccer public. FIFA has also encouraged its national associations to engage in successful partnerships with SOS Children's Village associations in their respective countries.