Tag: football

Community, Global, Nation, Sports

FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy arrives in Canada

On Tuesday, the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ Trophy arrived in Toronto, Canada, marking the end of a two-month and 24-country tour.

Following its launch in Paris on 24 February, when FIFA Legends Kristine Lilly and Laura Georges sent the most coveted prize in women’s football off on its whirlwind journey, the trophy has stopped in each of the 24 countries that qualified for the competition, with each nation celebrating its arrival in their own unique way.

The FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy spent a day at Scotland’s historic Edinburgh Castle; an afternoon on the pitch in Jamaica’s Montego Bay as part of a grassroots festival and took a trip on speedboat across Sydney Harbour in Australia, just some of the stops on its journey.

The global FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy Tour has visited six continents, accompanied by FIFA legends and welcomed by former international footballers, politicians and even a king.

Fans and football players flocked to get a close up look at the trophy, a symbol of excellence in female football, designed by William Sawaya and handcrafted by Milanese specialists Sawaya & Moroni in 1998. It stands at 47cm and weighs 4.6kg and its artistic design captures the athleticism, dynamism and elegance of international women’s football. It is made of bronze gold-plated, Continue reading “FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy arrives in Canada” →

Business, Global, Sports

EDF announced as National Supporter of FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019

FIFA and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) have announced the signing of EDF – a global leader in low-carbon energies – as a National Supporter of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019, taking place in nine Host Cities all over France next summer, from 7 June to 7 July.

Already involved in the promotion of women’s football, EDF is strengthening its commitment by supporting the biggest single-sport women’s event in the world. The group becomes the fifth National Supporter for the 2019 edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™, a festival of football and showcase for the rapid global evolution of women’s sports.

Noël Le Graët, President of the LOC and the French Football Association (FFF), said: “A partner of the French Football Association for many years, EDF has joined us today to support the organisation of the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019. With the draw just days away, this is an excellent piece of news, and we would like to welcome EDF on board as our fifth National Supporter. The world-renowned French group is reinforcing its firm commitment to women’s football through its participation in this major tournament.”

Philippe Le Floc’h, FIFA’s Chief Commercial Officer, commented: “We are excited to announce another significant signing for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Our strong line-up of National Supporters clearly confirms the growing interest for women’s football. Continue reading “EDF announced as National Supporter of FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019” →

Global, Health, India, Lifestyle, Sports

‘Yoga is India’s gift to the world for health and peace’ – P.M. Narendra Modi

At the ‘Yoga for Peace’  event during the G20 Summit in Buenos Aires, India’s Prime Minister said the practice connects everyone to happiness.

“I arrived here just a few hours ago after travelling over 15,000 kilometers in more than 24 hours. And because of your love and enthusiasm, I did not feel at all that I am outside India,” the Prime Minister said in Hindi.

Praising the organisers of the “Yoga for Peace” event, he said it’s hard to think of a better name.

“Yoga keeps both your body and mind healthy. It strengthens your body and keeps your mind at peace,” Modi, who attended the G20 Summit, said.

“Yoga is India’s gift to the world for health, wellness and peace. It connects us with wellness and happiness. Yoga is bridging the vast distance between India and Argentina. It is connecting the two countries and their people,” Prime Minister Modi said.

While Argentina has a keen interest in India’s art, music and dance, there are lakhs of fans of Argentine soccer players in our country. Maradona’s name has become part of our daily conversations and sayings, Prime Minister Modi said.

“It’s a matter of pride and happiness for us that Argentina is hosting the G20 summit. Issues such as global economy, sustainable development, climate change, and fugitive economic offenders will be discussed during the summit. These are in the interest of the entire world, and not just India and Argentina,” he said.

On the sidelines of the G20 summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday met with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. The two discussed India’s role in addressing climate change globally. Continue reading “‘Yoga is India’s gift to the world for health and peace’ – P.M. Narendra Modi” →

Global, Sports

#DareToShine

Launch of FIFA’s first-ever global strategy for women’s football

FIFA has launched its first-ever global strategy for women’s football which charts the course for how FIFA will work with confederations and Member Associations (MAs), clubs and players, the media, fans and other stakeholders to realise the full potential that exists within the women’s game.

FIFA strongly believes that women’s football brings one very important benefit to the many young girls and women involved in the game – empowerment. Encouraging empowerment through football, growing the game, getting more girls involved in it earlier and keeping women in football longer are all key elements of FIFA’s Women’s Football Strategy.

Speaking about the launch of FIFA’s global strategy for women’s football, Secretary General Fatma Samoura said: “As FIFA’s first female Secretary General I am proud to launch our first-ever global strategy for women’s football. The women’s game is a top priority for FIFA and via our new strategy we will work hand-in-hand with our 211 member associations around the world to increase grassroots participation, enhance the commercial value of the women’s game and strengthen the structures surrounding women’s football to ensure that everything we do is sustainable and has strong results. Most importantly it will make football more accessible to girls and women and encourage female empowerment, a subject of great importance, now more than ever before.” Continue reading “#DareToShine” →

Sports

Idris Elba to host The Best – British Rock giants Kasabian to perform

With The Best FIFA Football Awards™ 2017 coming to London on 23 October, this year’s hosts and music acts are set to have a best-of-British feel.

Hosting the ceremony at the London Palladium will be Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild (SAG)-winning actor Idris Elba, who has appeared in high-profile films such as The Mountain Between Us, Beasts of No Nation and Thor, not to mention the critically acclaimed television series Luther. A passionate Arsenal supporter, Elba counts Ian Wright, David Seaman and Thierry Henry among his all-time favourite Gunners.

Joining Elba will be additional presenter Layla Anna-Lee. The London-born Brazilian television presenter and social media star was chosen by director Danny Boyle to narrate the Olympic Opening Ceremony in London 2012 to a global audience of 1 billion. Lee has also presented an array of highly successful online content, including the popular FIFA World Cup™ series The Dugout, and says Pele is her all-time favourite player.

With Great Britain having given the world legendary bands such as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the Clash, it seems fitting to have giants of modern day rock-and-roll perform at The Best. Leicester’s Kasabian, who released their sixth studio album this year, are no strangers to performing at the world’s biggest festivals. Continue reading “Idris Elba to host The Best – British Rock giants Kasabian to perform” →