The long-standing partnership between UEFA and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) continues with the official announcement of the ICRC as UEFA's charity partner for the UEFA EURO 2008™ final round in Austria and Switzerland next summer.
The EURO partnership continues on from UEFA EURO 2004™ in Portugal, when UEFA and the ICRC united to promote the protection of children in war. European football's governing body and the ICRC have been partners since 1997, and the relationship shows UEFA's commitment as a major sports body to supporting social and humanitarian causes.
The partnership's core enterprise for UEFA EURO 2008™, which will be held between 7 and 29 June 2008 at eight venues in Austria and Switzerland, is a fundraising campaign – Score for the Red Cross – that will enable football fans to buy virtual goals for their teams online. A table system will show which countries have the most generous fans as the tournament progresses. UEFA will also make a contribution by transferring €4,000 (CHF6,700) to the ICRC for each goal scored in UEFA EURO 2008™. During UEFA EURO 2004™, 77 goals were scored, not counting penalties, which would have amounted to €308,000 (CHF516,000).
"UEFA and the ICRC have been partners now for ten years and in that time we have raised more than CHF8m," Mr Platini said. "This is not only something to be proud of for both our organisations; it is also important for the victims of armed conflicts around the world who this money has gone to help," UEFA's close partnership with the ICRC was launched with support for the latter's anti-landmine campaign in 1997. After it became a part of UEFA's partnership portfolio in 2002, the ICRC shifted the focus onto children in war.
As UEFA's charity partner for UEFA EURO 2004™, the ICRC and UEFA ran a joint campaign that used referees at the tournament to raise awareness of the fact that there are rules even in war, and that these rules need to be respected to protect the vulnerable, especially children. The campaign was a resounding success, receiving coverage and promotion around the world, both through ICRC operations and through national Red Cross/Red Crescent societies.
The campaign will receive a massive platform at UEFA EURO 2008™. Six million visitors are expected in Austria and Switzerland, and the huge TV and press coverage of the tournament will help guarantee the UEFA/ICRC activities maximum promotion.
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