UNHCR & IOC launch sportswear collection

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 14:45:21 GMT

The joint UNHCR/International Olympic Committee 'Giving is Winning' campaign which aims to bring sports clothing to thousands of refugees was launched in Guatemala City during the 119th session of the IOC. © UNHCR/M.Echandi

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, July 9 (UNHCR) – The UN refugee agency and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have launched a campaign aimed at collecting thousands of items of sportswear for distribution to refugees and displaced people around the world.

IOC President Jacques Rogge started the ball rolling by handing over a bag full of sports clothes to Marion Hoffmann, UNHCR representative for Mexico, Cuba and Central America, during the official launch ceremony of the second "Giving is Winning" campaign here on Friday.

"It fills me with happiness seeing this promising project kicked off. A project that will bring hope and joy to thousands of refugees on different continents."

For full story please read http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/4692299e4.html

Real Madrid trains refugee children in Panama City

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 13:41:13 GMT

Soccer supremo. A young footballer attending the sports school runs up for a shot at goal. © UNHCR/M.-H.Verney
PANAMA CITY, Panama, June 27 (UNHCR) – It's a long way from the Bernabeu stadium to Central America, but there is a direct link between Real Madrid's hallowed ground and a suburb overlooking the Panama Canal.
The City of Knowledge gathers several prestigious universities and schools built on the site of Panama's last US naval base, which was closed in 1999. They include the School for Sports Education and Social Integration, which was opened by the Real Madrid Foundation last year to teach football and provide a rounded education for hundreds of Panamanian youngsters.
This year, following an agreement between UNHCR and the Real Madrid Foundation, it opened its doors to 11 refugee children in Panama City. They joined more than 500 other students aged between five and 18, who were selected on the basis of both their skills and social background.
"Of course we want to train good players, but we also want to give the kids a chance to develop their full potential as human beings," explained the school's technical director, former Real Madrid player Angel Pérez, while keeping an eye on four different games at once.

For full story please read http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/468255d14.html

Nine Million Children Refugees: Support from the Sport world

UNHCR & IOC launch sportswear collection

Real Madrid trains refugee children in Panama City