The Ball 2014

StreetSoccer Scotland

Some photos thanks to from the Glasgow Street Soccer Drop In session where the Spirit of Football e.V. project visited us with ‘The Ball’ which will travel the world in the build up to Rio 2014 FIFA World Cup. Spirit of Football said “SoF is proud to visit Street Soccer Scotland on Thursday 16 January at their drop in Powerleague Seesion, 1 Kennedy Street, Glasgow from 1pm-3pm. The Ball 2014 will be played with in fair play street soccer matches and all players will have the opportunity to hear about its journeys as well as to sign it. In doing so they will become part of soccer’s Olympic Torch on its incredible 6 month pilgrimage from London to Brazil and the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

About The Ball:

The Ball is football’s equivalent to the Olympic Torch. The “Spirit of Football” team participates in education, fundraising, advocacy, press and PR activities for inspiring causes like Street Soccer Scotland. Tens of thousands of people come in contact with The Ball and sign it along its 30,000km journey across 25 countries. By the time it reaches Brazil, The Ball will be the most–autographed ball in the history of the sport.

Here is The Ball’s 2014 itinerary:
• Thursday, January 9th 2014: The Ball kicks off in Battersea Park, London.
Europe
• England: Jan 9 – Jan 13
• Scotland: Jan 14 – Jan 16
• England: Jan 17 – Jan 19
• Belgium: Jan 19 – Jan 20
• Holland: Jan 20 – Jan 21
• Germany: Jan 21 – Jan 26
• Switzerland: Jan 26 – Jan 27
• Italy: Jan 27 – Jan 28
• France: Jan 28 – Jan 29
• Spain: Jan 29 – Feb 2
• Portugal: Feb 2 – Feb 5
North America
• USA: Feb 5 – Mar 4
• Mexico: Mar 4 – Mar 14
Central America
• Guatemala: Mar 14 – Mar 21
• Honduras: Mar 21 – Mar 29
• Nicaragua: Mar 29 – Apr 6
• Costa Rica: Apr 6 – Apr 14
• Panama: Apr 14 – Apr 18
South America
• Colombia: Apr 18 – Apr 27
• Ecuador: Apr 27 – May 3
• Peru: May 3 – May 11
• Bolivia: May 11 – May 16
• Chile: May 16 – May 23
• Argentina: May 23 – June 1
• Uruguay: June 1 – June 6
• Brazil: June 6: Journey’s End and start of the FIFA World Cup
• June 6 – World Cup Final: The Ball tours Brazil
The Ball 2014:
• kicked off in London on January 9th 2014, exactly 150 years after the first official game of soccer to FA rules:
• has been hand made by a prisoner in a Brazilian Government rehabilitation project called “Pintando a Liberdade”.
• is travelling 30,000km through 25 countries in Europe, North, Central and South America to Brazil
• has a mission to raise awareness for its partners and to produce education material for SoFs “One Ball, One World” education programme
• is visiting schools and running its education project which includes a presentation of The Ball’s story, history as well as music, dance, art and fair play soccer
• is visitng some of the world’s oldest and most respected soccer clubs like FC Barcelona & FC Liverpool
• has so far been signed by Ledley King, Gordon Strachan and will be signed at midday today by Ally McCoist
• will be working with Special Olympics and other football for development organisation to raise public awareness for their missions of tolerance, inclusion, fair play and respect.
Everyone has the right to play and everyone from street kicker to super star footballer can kick and sign The Ball.

One Ball, One World

Photos: Edinburgh Photographic