LONDON, June 23, 2004 – Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher
is to make a guest appearance in the Allstars game 2004 to be held at the Algarve
Stadium (Faro/Loule) on July 12.
Portugal’s great football star Luis Figo and the Laureus Sport for Good
Foundation have come together to stage the match, which will feature some of
the greatest footballers in the world.
Funds raised from the match will go to help the work of the Luis Figo Foundation
and the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.
The first Allstars game which was held in the Bessa Stadium, Oporto last year,
involved players like Figo, Van Nistelroy, Zidane, Ronaldo, Shevchenko, Rui
Costa, Makelele, Sol Campbell and Edgar Davids.
Six-times World Champion Michael Schumacher, who won his second Laureus World
Sportsman of the Year Award last month, also made an appearance in that Allstars
game, and he will fly to the Algarve the day after the British Grand Prix at
Silverstone on July 11 to play again this year.
This second Allstars match will be between an international team made up of
players from the main European clubs and a team of Portuguese players from clubs
in Portugal and Europe. Top Portuguese referee Lucilio Baptista has agreed to
be in charge of the match. The date of the match has been brought forward to
July 12 because of the early return to pre-season training for Portuguese and
European clubs.
As well as the football match, the Luis Figo golf tournament, involving players,
guests, VIPs and sponsors, will also be held on July 12 over the Milenniumim
course at Vilamoura.
Luis Figo said: “Like last year this will be a match of the highest quality
on behalf of a noble cause - using sport as the means to aid society. This partnership
between the Luis Figo Foundation and the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation will
allow both organisations to reinforce their common goals and implement new action
programmes.”
Edwin Moses, Chairman of the Laureus World Sports Academy, said: “Since
I became Chairman of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, I have been involved
with many important sports projects, but I think the All Stars match is going
to be one of the most exciting.
“It gives me the greatest pleasure that the Luis Figo Foundation and the
Laureus Sport for Good Foundation are able to co-operate to stage such a memorable
football match in Portugal, the country which has been at the centre of the
football world this summer staging the European Championships.
“I know what an impact Luis Figo has made as a sportsman in Portugal
and throughout the world and that he is able to stage a football match like
this with so many great stars taking part shows how popular he is and how much
respect his fellow professionals have for him. At Laureus we are delighted that
we can support him in such a venture.”
The Luis Figo Foundation was created in 2003 and now has three programmes -
the Luis Figo Cup for school children, the Team Portugal programme which encourages
young people in sports like athletics, tennis and motor sport, and the Hope
Project which helps families with limited economic resources to treat serious
medical conditions.
The Laureus Sport For Good Foundation was set up to fund and promote the use
of sport as a tool for social change. Its work focuses on helping young people
overcome poverty, homelessness, war, violence, drug abuse, discrimination and
AIDS in 25 projects worldwide. Since its formation, the Laureus Sport for Good
Foundation has influenced the lives of over 100,000 young people. As part of
its co-operation with the Luis Figo Foundation, the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation
will now extend its activities to Portugal. The 41 members of the Laureus World
Sports Academy, all great sporting legends led by Chairman Edwin Moses, volunteer
their time and effort to support the Laureus Sport For Good Foundation.
For further information please contact:
Karen Dillon
Laureus International Media Office
Tel: +44 (0)20 7514 2749
Fax: +44 (0)20 7514 2782
Email: media@laureus.org
Photo Archive: www.laureusarchive.com
Website: www.laureus.com
| 
Bookmark with:
What are these?