2014 Homeless World Cup kicked off in Chile
The 2014 Homeless World Cup kicked off in the Chilean capital Santiago
on Sunday, with 63 teams from 49 nations competing for the title.
Teams paraded through the streets of Santiago before the eight-day tournament got underway at a specially constructed site in front of the La Moneda presidential palace.
President of the Homeless World Cup, Mel Young, said the only criteria for the players is that they must be homeless or living in extreme poverty.
"The players, the only qualification is that they must be living in extreme poverty or homeless, so for us this is the only criteria. Once we establish that we work with them throughout the year and then the team is selected to come. So we work with a hundred thousand (homeless or poor people) throughout the year, we've worked with a million. Eighty percent change their lives forever, got houses, jobs, came off drugs and all through the power of football." She said
Young said the organisation works with the selected players for a year in the run up to the tournament and estimates that around 80 per cent of participants change their lives as a result, finding homes, jobs or overcoming substance abuse.
"For us it's about football changing the world. The players involved change their lives completely, and this is continuing, this is part of our journey. Football is very, very powerful and we want to end homelessness and poverty through football." She added
Over 350 five-a-side matches will be played over the next week, with the final taking place next Sunday (October 26th)
Teams paraded through the streets of Santiago before the eight-day tournament got underway at a specially constructed site in front of the La Moneda presidential palace.
President of the Homeless World Cup, Mel Young, said the only criteria for the players is that they must be homeless or living in extreme poverty.
"The players, the only qualification is that they must be living in extreme poverty or homeless, so for us this is the only criteria. Once we establish that we work with them throughout the year and then the team is selected to come. So we work with a hundred thousand (homeless or poor people) throughout the year, we've worked with a million. Eighty percent change their lives forever, got houses, jobs, came off drugs and all through the power of football." She said
Young said the organisation works with the selected players for a year in the run up to the tournament and estimates that around 80 per cent of participants change their lives as a result, finding homes, jobs or overcoming substance abuse.
"For us it's about football changing the world. The players involved change their lives completely, and this is continuing, this is part of our journey. Football is very, very powerful and we want to end homelessness and poverty through football." She added
Over 350 five-a-side matches will be played over the next week, with the final taking place next Sunday (October 26th)
No comments