POSTED: Thursday June 18th 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FIFA President Blatter opens the inaugural Football for Hope Forum on 23 June

First-ever Football for Hope Forum on 23 June 2009 at 9h30 at the Riverside Hotel, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa

FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter, the Chairman of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee Irvin Khoza and former South African national team captain Lucas Radebe will officially open the first-ever Football for Hope Forum on 23 June 2009 at 9h30 at the Riverside Hotel, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa. (80km from Johannesburg).
Over 100 leading experts in the field of social development through football from South Africa and around the world will come together to discuss the role that football plays in addressing social issues like education, health promotion, social integration and HIV/Aids.
 
The forum is a milestone in the Football for Hope movement led by FIFA and streetfootballworld, a centre of expertise that connects a global network of organisations that use football for positive social change. Representatives from organisations using the world’s favourite sport will join members of football associations and global development institutions for a three-day programme of seminars and practical workshops. 
 
“By bringing together current and potential actors in the movement, this forum provides a unique opportunity to discuss football’s contribution to social development and the legacy of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in Africa” said the FIFA President. Delegates will also get the chance to see the power of football in action with a visit to Play Soccer, an organization that uses football to teach valuable life-skills to children in South African townships.
 
NOTE TO EDITORS
Media interested in attending are requested to rsvp to Philasande.Thwala@fifa.org by Friday, 19 June 2009 as accreditation is required. Transportation will be provided to and from the venue. The media shuttle bus will leave Sandton Sun Hotel at 7h30 am and Ellis Park Stadium media centre at 8h00 am.
For more information on the Football for Hope Forum please contact communications@footballforhope.org.
For further information please contact:

Media Office Johannesburg: e-mail: media-sa@fifa.org, SA office: Delia Fischer, mobile:                +278…       , Wolfgang  Eichler, mobile:                +2…       ; Jermaine Craig, OC Media Manager, email: jermaine.craig@2010oc.com; mobile:                +27832…       ; Mike Geddes, streetfootballworld, email: geddes@streetfootballworld.org, mobile: +27 (76) 5073157; www.FIFA.com;

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Keywords · FIFA · Sepp Blatter · football

Name: Nicolas Maingot
Organization: FIFA
Email:
Phone: +41-43/222 7272
URL: http://www.fifa.com/index.html

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