BARCELONA / MESSI

UNICEF appoints Lionel (Leo) Messi, FC Barcelona and Argentina national team soccer star as a global Goodwill Ambassador. UNICEF

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:11
• Production Date: 11 March 2010
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND - UNICEF
• Subject Topical: LEISURE; SPORTS
• MAMS Id: U100311h

Description

STORY: BARCELONA / MESSI
TRT: 1.11
SOURCE: UNICEF
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: SPANISH/ ENGLISH/ NATS

DATELINE: 11 MARCH 2010, BARCELONA, SPAIN

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, Lionel Messi and other speakers arrive at dais
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Philip O’Brien, UNICEF Director of Private Fundraising and Partnerships:
“On behalf of all of those young people who are going to see your leadership on this, and who are going to imitate what you do, and are going to know that there is somebody else speaking out for their rights, you are very, very welcome to the UNICEF family.”
3. Med shot, dais
4. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Lionel Messi, UNICEF Global Goodwill Ambassador:
“I know there are a millions of children who are not well, that have diseases, that don’t have good nutrition, that don’t have an education. And I want to help in my collaboration with UNICEF because of that, to add my grain of sand to improve all of that.¨
5. Med shot, dais
6. UPSOUND (English) Philip O’Brien, UNICEF Director of Private Fundraising and Partnerships:
“Take this, and if I can, since you are not wearing an FCB badge you need a badge, right? The best badge to be wearing is a UNICEF badge.”
7. Wide shot, Messi receiving a UNICEF badge from O’Brien

Storyline

Lionel ‘Leo’ Messi, one of FC Barcelona’s bright young stars – and member of the Argentine national football team – joined the ranks of celebrated UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors today (11 March) in Barcelona.

In a sun-filled room above Camp Nou, FC Barcelona’s legendary home in the heart of the Catalonian capital, the 22-year old Messi signed a two year commitment to work on behalf of the world’s most vulnerable children.

Philip O’Brien, Director of Private Fundraising and Partnerships, speaking on behalf of UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Venemen, introduced the young star.

Philip O’Brien, UNICEF Director of Private Fundraising and Partnerships:
“On behalf of all of those young people who are going to see your leadership on this, and who are going to imitate what you do, and are going to know that there is somebody else speaking out for their rights, you are very, very welcome to the UNICEF family.”

Messi’s relatively short career has taken him to the summit of world football. He was named the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2009, a year in which he also won the Golden Ball award for the best European footballer of the year. While Messi’s accomplishments as a player are well known, it is his determination to use his fame to help the world’s most vulnerable children that has led to his appointment as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Lionel Messi, UNICEF Global Goodwill Ambassador:
“I know there are a millions of children who are not well, that have diseases, that don’t have good nutrition, that don’t have an education. And I want to help in my collaboration with UNICEF because of that, to add my grain of sand to improve all of that.¨

In 2006, FC Barcelona and the FC Barcelona Foundation signed a global agreement with UNICEF. Since then, the club has worn the UNICEF logo on its shirt, broadcasting a message about the rights and needs of children as a symbol of the club’s values and its solidarity with children.

Messi joins a list of extraordinary UNICEF spokespersons, including Eminent Advocate HRH Queen Rania of Jordan and Goodwill Ambassadors Mia Farrow, Shakira, Sir Roger Moore, Orlando Bloom and Danny Glover, among many others.