Escort kids wearing 6 villages for 2006-t-shirts at the FIFA World Cup (Italy vs USA) - Photo: A. Staccioli
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SOS Children's Villages kicked-off the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ at the opening match in Munich on 9 June. Exactly one month later, the SOS team opened its information stand at the commercial display area in Berlin for the final time at the championship match between Italy and France.
SOS Children's Villages promoted the 6 villages for 2006 campaign by declaring that the campaign would continue until the final whistle of the final match in Berlin. As Italian Fabio Grosso fired the wining penalty shot past French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez to end the World Cup, the 6 villages for 2006 campaign officially came to an end.
The Official Charity Campaign of the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ met all financial fundraising expectations, while also achieving its goal of generating worldwide public and media interest for the work of SOS Children's Villages.
At the opening match Germany - Costa Rica - Photo: GES-Sportfoto
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SOS Children's Villages co-workers showcased the 6 villages for 2006 campaign at 15 matches in venues across Germany during the World Cup. From the opening match at FIFA World Cup Stadium Munich to the final contest at Berlin's Olympic Stadium, SOS Children's Villages welcomed football spectators to the SOS information stands located in the commercial display areas of the various stadiums.
The public's response was extremely positive, and while a professional artist was busy painting colourful flags on the faces of the football fans, SOS co-workers informed visitors about the campaign and the international work of the organisation.
Children at the training session of Costa Ricas national team - Photo: M. Schalk
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Highlights
Below is a timeline of some of the activities SOS Children's Villages conducted during this year's World Cup:
- 3 June: Mexican national team invites children and staff of SOS Children's Villages onto the pitch at one of their open training sessions in Göttingen. FIFA/SOS ambassador Jose Antonio Castro receives his official ambassador's certificate.
- 4 June: 6 villages for 2006 presented at a welcome gala for Argentina's national squad in Nuremburg.
- 9 June: SOS information stand welcomes football fans to opening match in Munich.
- 10 June: Costa Rican FIFA/SOS ambassador Alvaro Mesén invites children onto the pitch during a closed training session in Walldorf. Children pose for a picture with the entire squad!
- 17 June: Children and staff visit Paraguay national team at their hotel near Munich and hand over FIFA/SOS ambassador certificates to three players: Roque Santa Cruz, Carlos Gamarra and Carlos Bonnet.
Children from SOS Children's Village Lippe at the match Italy vs Ghana - Photo: SOS Archives
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- 19 June: US goalkeeper Kasey Keller pledges his support for 6 villages for 2006 and receives his FIFA/SOS ambassador certificate following a press conference of the US team in Hamburg.
- 28 June: Former footballers and FIFA/SOS ambassadors Dunga (captain of the Brazilian team that lifted the 1994 World Cup title) and Mexican Hugo Sanchez visit the children's village in Ammersee near Munich. They play football with the children and pledge support to the 6 villages for 2006 campaign.
- 8 July: FIFA/SOS ambassador for France, Christian Karembeu, travels to Berlin for SOS Children's Villages to present 6 villages for 2006 at a concert organised by FIFA. Karembeu promotes the campaign as a television commentator. Unfortunately, torrential rain leads to the cancellation of this outdoor event.
- 9 July: SOS information stand welcomes football fans to the final match in Berlin.
- 15 July: An autograph book containing the original signatures of all 736 players and coaches, donated by FIFA and the Local Organizing Committee, receives a top bid of 61,500 euros!