THAILAND / LEO MESSI

A group of 20 children with intellectual disabilities attended an FC Barcelona-UNICEF event featuring Leo Messi and Jose Manuel Pinto, aimed at promoting social inclusion for young people with disabilities. (UNICEF)

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:00:51
• Production Date: 2 September 2013
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND - UNICEF
• Subject Topical: PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES; HUMAN RIGHTS
• Geographic Subject: THAILAND
• MAMS Id: U130902b

Description

STORY: THAILAND / LEO MESSI
TRT: 1.35
SOURCE: UNICEF
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH /SPANISH/ NATS

DATELINE: 6 AUGUST 2013, BANGKOK, THAILAND

Shotlist

1.Med shot, children living with disabilities await arrival of Messi and Pinto
2. Wide shot, Messi and Pinto enter and sit
3.SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Leo Messi, Soccer player, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador:
“I have to practice a lot, especially during the football season. In the off season I practice 1-2 hours a day to keep myself fit."
4. Various, Messi and Pinto playing with the children
5. Various, Messi and Pinto sign football shirts
6. Wide shot, group photo of Messi and Pinto with children

Storyline

Anurak Warit, a youth with learning disabilities, traveled nearly 700 kilometres from his hometown in northern Thailand to Bangkok for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of meeting FC Barcelona’s Football stars Lionel Messi and Jose Manuel Pinto.

Anurak was one of 20 children with intellectual disabilities to attend a FC Barcelona-UNICEF event which featured Messi and Pinto, aimed at promoting social inclusion for young people with disabilities.

Both took time off from their busy team tour schedule in Thailand to talk to and play football with the young people, who had all come to Bangkok from different areas of the country for the event.

The children who attended the event participated in football and other sport training and competitions organized by Special Olympics Thailand with support from UNICEF. Some of the children will be competing at the 2014 Global Unified Cup in Brazil being organized by the Special Olympics and FIFA to promote social inclusion and equal participation for young people with intellectual disabilities.