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Man U players in charity appearance in UN headquarters
United Nations, July 30: Players from Manchester United played with New York children on the lawn of United Nations headquarters for charity.
United Nations, July 30: Players from Manchester United played with New York children on the lawn of United Nations headquarters for charity.
Players from Manchester United, arguably the world's best known soccer club, on Tuesday (July 29) kicked and headed balls with New York children on the lawn of United Nations headquarters for charity. Through the programme "United for UNICEF" the team donated one million pounds to UNICEF, the children's charity. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan greeted players Ryan Giggs, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, Quinton Fortune and Roy Carroll, club executives and UNICEF goodwill ambassador, Liberian soccer star George Weah. The cash donation was announced by UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy, "Not only have they provided resources and over a million pounds, mind you this isn't U.S dollars and given the value of the dollar these days, that one million pounds is a lot of money, but also a team that has committed itself to fighting the exploitation of children, so thank you very much Manchester United, we are UNICEF appreciate that, in fact the kids around the world appreciate that." Weah, who used to play for Milan, Marseilles and Chelsea, told the gathered crowd, "As a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador I want to encourage every sports association and organisation to emulate the humanitarian work of Manchester United and UNICEF, we must all to our part to help protect children from all forms of violence, neglect and abuse."
Kofi Annan had to leave the fun and games early, but not before expressing that he'd much rather be kicking about with the world famous players. His wife, Nane, took his place in praising Manchester United. She said, "For years the stars of Manchester United have thrilled the world with their amazing feet and athletic feats, today we applaud you for giving us a different kind of thrill - the thrill of seeing you take a stand for a better world for children, thank you very much."
The English Premier League champions, known as "Man U" to an estimated 50 million of their followers worldwide, are touring the United States for the first time in 40 years to raise their profile in America.
So far on tour, United have defeated Celtic of Scotland 4-0 in Seattle and Mexico's Club America 3-1 in Los Angeles. They play Italian champions Juventus on Thursday night at Giants Stadium near New York.
Also on Thursday, playmaker Giggs and Bobby Charlton,one of the club's stars of the 1960s, will attend a publicity drive to help raise money for a garden memorial in lower Manhattan for British victims of the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center.
Bureau Report
Players from Manchester United, arguably the world's best known soccer club, on Tuesday (July 29) kicked and headed balls with New York children on the lawn of United Nations headquarters for charity. Through the programme "United for UNICEF" the team donated one million pounds to UNICEF, the children's charity. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan greeted players Ryan Giggs, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, Quinton Fortune and Roy Carroll, club executives and UNICEF goodwill ambassador, Liberian soccer star George Weah. The cash donation was announced by UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy, "Not only have they provided resources and over a million pounds, mind you this isn't U.S dollars and given the value of the dollar these days, that one million pounds is a lot of money, but also a team that has committed itself to fighting the exploitation of children, so thank you very much Manchester United, we are UNICEF appreciate that, in fact the kids around the world appreciate that." Weah, who used to play for Milan, Marseilles and Chelsea, told the gathered crowd, "As a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador I want to encourage every sports association and organisation to emulate the humanitarian work of Manchester United and UNICEF, we must all to our part to help protect children from all forms of violence, neglect and abuse."
Kofi Annan had to leave the fun and games early, but not before expressing that he'd much rather be kicking about with the world famous players. His wife, Nane, took his place in praising Manchester United. She said, "For years the stars of Manchester United have thrilled the world with their amazing feet and athletic feats, today we applaud you for giving us a different kind of thrill - the thrill of seeing you take a stand for a better world for children, thank you very much."
The English Premier League champions, known as "Man U" to an estimated 50 million of their followers worldwide, are touring the United States for the first time in 40 years to raise their profile in America.
So far on tour, United have defeated Celtic of Scotland 4-0 in Seattle and Mexico's Club America 3-1 in Los Angeles. They play Italian champions Juventus on Thursday night at Giants Stadium near New York.
Also on Thursday, playmaker Giggs and Bobby Charlton,one of the club's stars of the 1960s, will attend a publicity drive to help raise money for a garden memorial in lower Manhattan for British victims of the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center.
Bureau Report