"THE BALL 2014" SET TO COMMENCE JANUARY 2014:
Kiwi Andrew Aris, a former NZ u-20 international and North Shore, Auckland and German lower-league pro who founded the charity "Spirit of Football" before the 2010 World Cup, is launching the latest installment of "The Ball" whereby sponsored participants kick a football from Battersea Park, London to the World Cup in Brazil in time for the opening ceremony (football's version of the Olympic torch relay):
It has really grown since the 2010 installment when the ball was kicked to South Africa & now has some of the world's major clubs behind it:
Supported by Corinthians, Brazil (reigning South American & World Club Champions), Barcelona FC, Aris Thessolonika (Greece):
FC Barcelona and Spirit of FootballJanuary 23rd, 2013 by Christian Wach
FC Barcelona and Spirit of Football announced a joint initiative today. To kick it off, all the first-team players signed a ball called “The Barça Spirit Ball” — a replica of The Ball 2014 — which is on its way to Brazil, where the next FIFA World Cup will take place.
This special ball will visit more than 100 schools across Brazil, including schools in a number of favelas. An estimated 50,000 people, mostly children, will encounter it as they participate in workshops run by Spirit of Football.
Read the full FC Barcelona announcement.
Check out the video:
FC Barcelona e Spirit of Football
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Dani Alves: “It is our desire that this solidarity ball travels to schools and favelas of Brazil.”
Gerard Piqué: “Football is a great way to unite people and share our values”
Cesc Fàbregas: “For a better world. One Ball, One World.”
April 25th, 2013 by Phil Wake
Sport Club Corinthians Paulistain Sao Paulo, Brazil have signed a replica of Spirit of Football’s2014 ball to support Spirit of Football’s community activities in Brazil in the run up to the epic football pilgrimage The Ball 2014 will undertake over six months from England to Brazil. Check out the video…
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Spirit of Football e Corinthians
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S.C. Corinthians Paulista, named after the skilled amateur Corinthians team from England which toured Brazil in 1910, have put their considerable weight (they are reigning FIFA Club World Champions and Copa Libertadores Champions) behind our project to support the community work that Spirit of Football are undertaking across Brazil. From sourcing The Ball in a unique rehabilitation program in Brazil’s prisons to events in schools and favelas across Brazil you can find out about Spirit of Football’s Brazilian work here.
February 6th, 2013 by Christian Wach
On January 9th 2014, Spirit of Football CIC will kick-off football’s Olympic Torch (The Ball 2014) on its fourth journey from the home of football in London to the FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Aris F.C. fans plan to take part in the kickoff by bringing the blessings of the Greek Gods from Mount Olympus to London with them – in the form of The “Spirit of Aris” Ball, a replica of The Ball 2014.
Check out the You Tube video:
"Τhe ARIS Spirit Ball" στον δρόμο για την Βραζιλία.
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Aris FC players join the chorus of “One Ball One World” in Greek and Spanish.
Spirit of Football visited Thessaloniki in October 2012 and led an EU workshop at the 3rd Model Experimental Primary School of Evosmos. During this visit, Andrew Aris, a director of Spirit of Football whose family name just happens to be Aris, found out about the spirit of football at Aris F.C. first hand:
“We turned up unannounced at the Aris Sports Cafe and before we knew it, we were being given a tour of the stadium by Communications Manager Nikos Stakias, kicking a ball on the hallowed pitch, and being introduced to officials and fans. It was a fantastic welcome into the Aris F.C. family and very representative of the spirit of football that we felt during our entire stay in Thessaloniki.”
Spirit of Football meet Nikos Stakias of Aris FC
The Spirit of Aris Ball was officially unveiled on Saturday 3 February 2013 with a press conference at Aris F.C. It has already been signed by Aris F.C. first team players, prominent members of Aris F.C. fan groups as well as children from the 3rd Model Experimental Primary School of Evosmos. It is planned that many thousands of Aris F.C. fans all over Greece will have signed the Spirit of Aris Ball by the start of 2014, which is a significant year for both Spirit of Football and Aris F.C. It is not only the 150th anniversary of the first official game of football to F.A. Rules (The Ball 2014 kicks off to Brazil on that very day) but is also the 100th anniversary of the founding of Aris F.C.
Spirit of Football and Aris FC present the “Spirit of Aris”
Both organisations love football and agree that it is about more than results, transfers, television, marketing and money – football truly is the world’s game and a way to connect people. Those who love this game share a common spirit that crosses borders and transcends cultures. Accordingly, Spirit of Football would like to invite Aris F.C. fans (and indeed all Greek football fans) to sign The Spirit of Aris Ball and follow The Ball 2014 en route from London to Brazil and to share in the spirit of football.
Other links:
- Spirit of Football Brazil website
- Spirit of Football Brazil Facebook page
- Spirit of Football Brazil on Twitter
Spirit of Football meet Nikos Stakias of Aris FC
Spirit of Football and Aris FC present the “Spirit of Aris”