We were invited to bring The Ball to the EPF Equality Summit dinner, hosted by Kings College of London on the rooftop of an 8th story building near Covent Garden, with a stunning view of London’s skyline. The Ball shines on such evenings. Many of the Equality Summit’s guests were eager to learn more about it and to sign it. Spirit of Football USA Ambassador Dr. Karli Richards Stenger had been invited to the conference by the women’s football shoe company IDA Sports. Karli has been consulting with IDA Sports about the special needs of the female anatomy in terms of football footwear. She was also talking about ACL injury prevention in female athletes at the summit.
IDA Sports were represented by several employees. Karli and I had them heading and signing The Ball and making climate pledges on the rooftop. Unfortunately, whilst juggling The Ball, there was a very poor touch and The Ball bounced over the railing and went into an eight story freefall. There was panic in the air, as we (IDA team and Spirit team) raced down to search for The Ball in Central London. I had a horrible gut feeling that it was gone. In 20 years of ball journeys we have lost The Ball several times but never not found it again. Panic set-in. Was our luck just about to run out?
About this time, Royal Highness Prince Ali of Jordan, who had been invited to join the event, was arriving. The story goes that he couldn’t find the entrance until he saw a ball drop from the sky. In any case, The Ball was found again by a much relieved IDA employee and Prince Ali and The Ball entered the gathering together. Of course the Prince also signed The Ball and is looking forward to being reunited with it in Jordan in December where we are planning an upcycling project in the Azraq Refugee Camp.
