It has been a trend in common with nearly every famous celebrity that at a certain point in their lives, they turn towards helping others, embracing a philanthropic spirit. This has been seen with many sports celebrities such as
Pele as well as celebrities from the entertainment industry like Madonna and Angelina Jolie. During the earthquake at Haiti, Tiger Woods sent a plane load of relief goods to the affectees. Recently world famous footballers Ronaldo and Zidane announced that
they will play the 8th annual Match against Poverty to raise funds for the people affected in the Haiti and the floods in Pakistan. This match is expected to be played in Greece on December 15th.
These matches are a part of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. These goals include fighting against prevalent poverty, disease and social ills in the world. With regard
to this the United Nations Agency has set some targets regarding these goals which are expected to be achieved by 2015. Now that the UNDP is closely working with the World Champion footballers, it is expected that the Agency will be quite successful in helping
the people out in Pakistan and the Haiti. This 8th annual Match against Poverty is expected to help some 25 million people who have been affected by the recent floods in Pakistan and the earthquake in the Haiti. The funds which are collected from
the match will be disbursed by the UNDP in these two calamity struck countries.
Given the poverty, hunger and other challenges that are faced in the world today the steps taken by the World Champions in helping people out in need is seen as a positive measure by football fans and the world in general. Zidane
sounded positive in saying that, with only five years left to achieve these Millennium Development Goals the match will be able to communicate a sense of urgency that all of us need to join hands in this time of need to end the evils of poverty and hunger.
These steps by Zidane and Ronaldo have been hailed by the UNDP officials. One of the UNDP officials said that the goals of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with the 8th annual Match against Poverty is
helping out the governments of Pakistan and Haiti in recovering from the recent disaster which hit the two countries very badly. He expressed gratitude to the two World Champions in their efforts to help the UNDP collect funds. He also said that such people
are often forgotten very quickly by the world. Evangelos Marinakis, the football club owner of the Olympiacos said that the match would bring the people of the world together in helping the people who are in dire need of help. He also said that the Olympiacos
Football Club is determined to help achieve the MDGs by using football as the driving force. He announced that the proceeds of the share which the Olympiacos will receive will go towards helping the children who have special needs.
Tags: