Match Against Poverty – Hamburg – Germany (13 December 2011)
Match Against Poverty 2011
Zidane – Drogba – Ronaldo Highlights of Match Against Poverty
Match Against Poverty – Hamburg – Germany 13/12/2011
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24,400 football fans join UNDP Ambassadors Zidane, Ronaldo and Drogba to support of the Horn of Africa at the Ninth Annual Match Against Poverty in Hamburg
Match Against Poverty – Hamburg – Germany 13/12/2011
Zinédine Zidane, Ronaldo and Didier Drogba joined superstars of European football past and present at a charity match this evening in Hamburg to raise funds for and awareness of the crisis in the Horn of Africa at the ninth annual UEFA-backed Match Against Poverty.
Match Against Poverty – Hamburg – Germany 13/12/2011
More than 24,400 football fans filled the HSV Imtech Arena in Hamburg to watch top players reach a 5-4 win for the UNDP team, which also included Christian Karembeu, Fabio Cannavaro, Rabah Madjer and Dida. The event, organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is held in a different European city each year and pits the UNDP All Star team against an established football club. The last two years were hosted by Benfica of Lisbon and Olympiakos of Athens/Piraeus.
Match Against Poverty – Hamburg – Germany 13/12/2011
Wilfried Lemke, speaking on behalf of United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as his Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace, said the proceeds of today’s game will go to the nearly 13 millions of people in need of assistance across the Horn of Africa. “And I am delighted to see that the athletes, the UN family and the world of sport can work together to build a better world,” he said. “The Match Against Poverty has become a leading event in the global fight against poverty.
Match Against Poverty – Hamburg – Germany 13/12/2011
Sigrid Kaag, United Nations Assistant Secretary General and Director of UNDP’s Bureau for External Relations and Advocacy said the Match Against Poverty represents the best of sport and the best of humanity. “The players and the audience have shown they are One Team for the Horn of Africa,” she said.
Match Against Poverty – Hamburg – Germany 13/12/2011
This year, UNDP and HSV decided to target proceeds from the Match to support the global effort to address the crisis in the Horn of Africa. Two thirds of the match proceeds were to go towards the UN’s attempt to tackle the ongoing food crisis, while HSV originally intended to donate the remaining funds towards diverse community development projects in Hamburg.
Match Against Poverty – Hamburg – Germany 13/12/2011
However, on the day of the Match, HSV President Carl Jarchow said he and his team would donate all funds to the Horn of Africa crisis. “We are proud to be able to work with UNDP to organize this Match for such an important cause,” he said. “Hamburg, through its port, has always been connected to the rest of the world. The Match Against Poverty is perfectly in line with our values as a team, and as a community.”
Match Against Poverty – Hamburg – Germany 13/12/2011
Speaking at a press conference just before the Match, Zinédine Zidane, Ronaldo and Didier Drogba declared in unison their appreciation to the people of Hamburg for hosting the match. “It is amazing and encouraging to see so much solidarity and support for Africa from sports fans around the world,” said Ronaldo, who scored a goal in the second period. “And also from so many football players on both sides who took time out their busy schedules to travel to Hamburg in support of this important cause.”
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About United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Since 1966, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been partnering with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of live for everyone. UNDP works in four main areas: poverty reduction and achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); democratic governance; crisis prevention and recovery; environment and sustainable development.
UNDP is the United Nations’ global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 177 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners.
World leaders have pledged to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, including the overarching goal of cutting poverty in half by 2015. UNDP’s network links and coordinates global and national efforts to reach these Goals.
Our focus is helping countries build and share solutions to the challenges of:
- Fighting poverty
- Building democratic societies
- Preventing crisis, enabling recovery
- Protecting the environment
- Halting & reversing HIV/AIDS
- Empowering women
- Growing national capacity
UNDP helps developing countries attract and use aid effectively. In all our activities, we encourage the protection of human rights, capacity development and the empowerment of women.
More at: www.undp.org
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> United Nations (UN).
The United Nations was established on 24 October 1945 by 51 countries committed to preserving peace through international cooperation and collective security. Today, nearly every nation in the world belongs to the UN: membership totals 192 countries.
When States become Members of the United Nations, they agree to accept the obligations of the UN Charter, an international treaty that sets out basic principles of international relations. According to the Charter, the UN has four purposes:
- to maintain international peace and security;
- to develop friendly relations among nations;
- to cooperate in solving international problems and in promoting respect for human rights;
- and to be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.
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* The above story is adapted from materials provided by United Nations (UN)
** More information at United Nations (UN)
