The Balls from 2002, 2006 and 2010

The Team

This was the team in 2010…

Christian Wach

Christian travelled to more than 50 countries following his passion for street theatre, programme–making and storytelling. He has worked in Asia, Australasia, Polynesia and America. His travels included an audience with the Dalai Lama, experiencing the reunification of Germany, escaping unharmed from the Thai mafia and living with tribal people in the rainforests of Sumatra.

Phil Wake

Convinced of the unique power that football has to connect people throughout the world, Phil co–founded Spirit of Football. When he’s not restoring furniture, Phil can be found developing musicianship on drums, playing acoustic guitar and singing. Phil is also skilled in circus arts, including juggling, acrobatics and sleight–of–hand magic.

Andrew Aris

Andrew has football running through his veins. He played for New Zealand, the University of Notre Dame in the US and Rot–Weiss Erfurt in Germany. In 2002, he attended the the first FIFA World Cup in Asia. In 2005, he interned with the German World Cup Organising Committee, graduated with a Master of Public Policy from the Erfurt School of Public Policy and founded Spirit of Football e.V.

Richard Hamilton

Richard was a key figure in the history of The Ball. In 2002, he suggested that Phil and Christian meet him in Afghanistan and that they all travel to Korea & Japan from there. He has worked in Programme Management for Concern Worldwide in North Korea, Burundi, Tajikistan and Afghanistan, CARE International in Darfur and Sri Lanka and is currently back in Afghanistan with the Norwegian Refugee Council.

Sven

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. He degreed in Media, Business and Journalism and finished his Masters in European Studies in Januar 2012. After working as an online editor he is travelling New Zealand since November 2012. For the last years, he has been working for the non–profit association Spirit of Football e.V.

The Ball 2014 will leave England on 9th Jan 2014 and head to the Opening Ceremony in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The Ball 2010 left England on 24th Jan 2010 headed to the Opening Ceremony in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The Ball 2006 travelled from London to the Opening Ceremony in Munich, Germany.

The Ball 2002 was carried 7000 miles across Europe and Asia to the World Cup finals in Korea & Japan.