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SCORE for 2010 Campaign kicks off
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Leading African-based Sport and Development organisation SCORE launched their unique SCORE for 2010 campaign, aimed at bringing the excitement and experience of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ to rural and disadvantaged communities across Southern Africa. The kick-off took place at a community football festival with a difference in Khayelitsha, Western Cape, South Africa on Tuesday, 30 March 2010.

The event was to launch SCORE’s commitment to ensuring that children and youth, in the communities in which they work, are able to share in the atmosphere and excitement surrounding the greatest football spectacle in the world, being hosted on African soil for the first time.

The launch event was organized by SCORE trained community sport leaders who hosted a two day football festival for 16 mixed teams (boys and girls) from local schools and clubs. Each team represented a country participating in the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ and was tasked with designing and decorating its own flag, banners, posters and playing kit. More than 200 local players participated and were joined by, spectators, community leaders and local authority representatives, at the Isiphiwo Primary School in Khayelitsha, the community in which SCORE was founded in 1991.

Western Cape Director of Sport and Recreation in the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Mr Thabo Tutu, who was also keynote speaker at the launch, said, “It is the responsibility of all of us as civil society i.e. government, SCORE, NGOs and members of the community to ensure young people are provided with the opportunities to be actively involved in sport. It is only by putting into practice the lessons learned from organised sport that they can contribute to the growth and development of their respective communities.”

At the heart of SCORE’s campaign is a community-based football competition linked to a life skills education programme, which will involve more than 10 000 children and youth in more than 50 communities throughout southern Africa, and will take place during the period of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

Designed in consultation with community sports leaders, the SCORE for 2010 Community Cup sees 32 mixed teams (boys and girls) drawn to represent one of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ nations. In all participating communities, these 32 teams will mirror the daily match schedule of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ for the group phase, leading up towards the Finals Day of the Community Cup on the 26th of June, 2010. In addition to competing on the field, teams also participate in simultaneous sports for development educational activities highlighting subjects such as HIV/AIDS awareness, global citizenship, fair play, community service, and life and leadership skills learning.

SCORE’s Strategic Partnerships Manager, Kgomotlokwa Betty Lallie said, “Members of the communities in which SCORE works will have very little opportunity to be a part of the bigger celebrations in and around the host cities as they just do not have the means to travel to the fan parks and stadiums, neither can they afford tickets to the actual matches. SCORE therefore decided to bring the magic to these communities by arranging activities around the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. Our activities will promote inclusion, community building and empowerment through a holiday programme which forms part of the organisation’s long term community intervention plan, building a platform for future work and contributing to a real and visible legacy at grassroots level.”

The launch was a resounding success with the team “representing” the Netherlands eventually being crowned tournament champions in a hard fought 2-1 win over Algeria. The standard of play was of the highest quality with the Netherlands triumphing through two spectacular goals. The final whistle cued wild celebrations as players and fans alike took to the field to celebrate.

With only 70 days until kick-off of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, the launch of the SCORE for 2010 campaign gave the community a chance to express their enthusiasm, excitement and interest surrounding the event.

All media requests and enquiries can be directed to:
Chris Middleton
Communications Officer
SCORE South Africa
Tel.: +27 (0)21 461 0466
Cell.: +27 (0)72 752 8904
E-mail: [email protected]

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