POSTED: Thursday October 8th 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

1GOAL for 2010

Football Federation Australia (FFA) today signed-on to the worldwide campaign to change the lives of children in poverty through improving access to education.

1GOAL is the official campaign of the 2010 FIFA World Cup and aims to remind world leaders of their commitment to universal education as part of the achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

“Football Federation Australia is proud to support the 1GOAL campaign partnering with FIFA, the Australian Government and others around the world,” said FFA CEO, Ben Buckley.

“1GOAL is a global campaign in partnership with the 2010 FIFA World Cup which urges all football fans to help make a difference by calling on world leaders to make education and priority and a reality for children around the world.”

Buckley said that UN data shows that 75 million children around the world do not attend school with half of them in the African continent.

“Next year’s FIFA World Cup in South Africa gives all of us in the football world an opportunity to highlight this issue while the world spotlight is on both Africa and football.

“Education is an important policy objective in any society to ensure that people have the best possible opportunity to reach their potential.”

Qantas Socceroo and Blackburn Rovers midfielder, Vincenzo Grella, and Westfield Matilda and Sydney FC striker, Sarah Walsh, joined Buckley, Federal Sports Minister Kate Ellis and others to sign-on to the join1goal.org website.

“We’re not asking for money,” said Grella.

“We’re just asking all football fans to join our team and add their name to millions of others around the world urging governments to remember their commitment to education for all.”

Walsh also said that it is vital that girls are given the chance to go to school also.

“Education is the key to helping to eradicate poverty and to build communities for boys and girls,” said Walsh.

“Please help us give every child a fair chance in life by signing-on to join1goal.org.”

The 1GOAL campaign is supported by governments around the world, the football community and footballers, as well as leading NGOs and celebrities.

Tonight Australian time Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will take part in the global launch of the 1GOAL campaign by video link along with the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, the President of FIFA, Joseph Blatter, Queen Rania of Jordan, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, President Jacob Zuma of South Africa and President John Atta of Ghana.

Australian football players will be featured on the join1goal.org website along with other stars of the game.

 

# # #

Keywords · FFA · Ben Buckley · 2010 FIFA World Cup · Vincenzo Grella · Sarah Walsh

Name: Bonita Mersiades
Organization: FFA Football Federation Australia
Email:
Phone: +61 2 8354 5544
URL: http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/default.aspx?s=home

Please refer all questions to the company listed above issuing the press release. SFC will not be able to assist you with any inquiries and disclaims any content in these press releases.