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مبرة أم الحسين Mabarrat Um Al Hussein – The Mercy of Hussein’s Mother

Amman, Jordan, Monday 9th March 2020. We are visiting a charitable organisation in the North of Amman, Mabarrat Um Al Hussein, a children’s home for orphaned and neglected children between the ages of 8-16 years old. Knackered after a successful workshopday at JOHUD, we were at first sceptical as to whether we would be able […]

Spirit of Football is another world

“Spirit of Football is another world – a world full of energy, full of power, teamwork, education and creativity.” Rana (42) English facilitator, participant Workshop participants were taken into another world, a world far from the mundane, full of colours, action and creativity. We were once again in Amman, this time visiting JOHUD (Jordanian Hashemite […]

The End of the Journey is Only the Beginning of the Next Journey

The Ball 2018 kicked off on the 25th of March in the place where the first game of FA Rules football was played – in Battersea Park in London. In the following 14 weeks it visited 20 countries and more than 7,500 people signed their names on it – together they celebrated The Ball’s unique […]

RUSSIA live – THE BALL meets Tatarstan!

The Ball journey 2018 was nearing its last hours. The finishing-line looming, the two remaining ball-bearers wanted to pay a visit to the Land of the Tatars. After an exhausting drive (2300 km including an all-night stint) we finally spotted our destination, Kazan, in the light of the dawn – the easternmost point of the […]

RUSSIA live – Germany vs. Sweden: Emotional Rollercoaster

The Spirit team, with only 3 motivated players left, once more had to say goodbye to one of its members. Martin, our Brad-Pitt-lookalike, left us after 10 days of devotion and support, so that Benni and Benny (B&B) from now on journeyed alone through Mother Russia. The next stop was Sochi, a name which should […]

EXPERIENCING RUSSIA – Dombai, Caucasus

Ask any Russian about Dombai and you will hear that this village of 600 inhabitants is very popular as a ski- and hiking centre. And we found that this is with good cause! It was probably one of the most idyllic of our workshop places  Our accommodation was surrounded by 4000 m high rocky giants – a […]

ROSTOV-ON-DON – Russian Hospitality

After the exciting days in Moscow, the Spirit team continued towards the South of this gigantic country. On arrival in Rostov-on-Don, the two Bennis naturally had to pay a visit to the game Brazil against Switzerland, accompanied by The Ball. Together with the lively, frenetically cheering Seleção fans, we enjoyed a few cold drinks. And […]

MOSCOW – The Ball at the German School in Moscow

It is the long awaited start of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The Ball is in Moscow. The Friedrich-Ebert-Foundation (FES) team and its director Mirko Hempel are our fantastic hosts. We are preparing to run our workshop at the German School Moscow. Special guests are expected. We are hoping that one of the defending World-Champion […]

MOSKAU – One Ball, One BeeGee

It is 4:45 pm on the 13th of June and The Ball arrives in Moscow. It is time to celebrate. More than anyone else, Benni Gruenewald has something to celebrate. He has been there since the start of the journey. He is the main ball-carrier. He’s been responsible for The Ball the entire journey. He […]

VERKHNY LARS – The Crossing of All Border Crossings

The Ball’s carriers are cautious about entering Russia. There are many unanswered questions, such as: Will our van be allowed to enter? In Turkey we ran into troubles and once again we needed the help of The Ball to convince border officials to let us enter Turkey from Greece at Kipi/Ipsala and to leave Turkey […]

The Ball 2018 left England on 25th March 2018 and travelled to the World Cup in Russia.

The Ball 2014 kicked off from England on 9th Jan 2014 and headed to the World Cup in 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.