The Ball 2010

Andrew has football running through his veins. As a player, he played football for New Zealand, the University of Notre Dame in the USA and professionally for Rot–Weiss Erfurt in Germany. In 2002 in Korea, he experienced the power of the first FIFA World Cup in Asia. In 2005, he interned in the German World Cup Organising Committee, graduated with a Master of Public Policy from the Erfurt School of Public Policy, and founded the non–profit association Spirit of Football e.V. Andrew has been involved with The Ball since 2005. “As soon as I saw the 2002 5 minute film, I knew that I had to get involved. Now, The Ball has become an obsession."

Christian is one of the founders of The Ball. He has travelled to more than 50 countries following his passion for street theatre, programme–making, storytelling. He performed shows featuring juggling, magic and acrobatics, and worked in Asia, Australasia, Polynesia and America. Highlights of his travels included an audience with the Dalai Lama, experiencing the reunification of Germany and escaping unharmed from the Thai mafia. He later studied in Bristol before settling near Bath, UK where he works as an interactive media developer.

Convinced of the extraordinary power football has to connect people all over the world, Phil co-founded The Ball. When he’s not restoring furniture or chasing after his 2 year old son Jasper, Phil can be found developing musicianship on drums, playing acoustic guitar and singing, having spent 6 years running and performing with Burn, an acid jazz outfit from Bristol, UK. Phil is also skilled in circus arts, including juggling, acrobatics and sleight–of–hand magic. He now lives in Brighton, UK.

Richard was instrumental in the development of The Ball. It was his suggestion that Phil and Christian meet him in Afghanistan – and that they all travel to Korea from there – that led them to the idea of travelling the entire distance overland with The Ball. He works in programme management for CARE USA and more recently for the Norwegian Refugee Council. He has served in North Korea, Burundi, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Darfur, Sri Lanka and is presently back in Afghanistan. Richard plans to accompany the Ball from Senegal, where his family is now based, on its journey down the west coast of Africa.

Born and raised in the green heart of Germany, Sven's journeys have taken him throughout Europe. "Football is more than a 1:0, it is a common layer of global society, because it is so favoured and way more joyful to discuss about." Sven is a so-called "groundhopper" -- everywhere he goes, he has to visit the local stadium. After he degreed in Media, Business and Journalism, he is now completing his Masters in European Studies. For the last year, he has been working for the non–profit association Spirit of Football e.V.