Bangkok--2 Jul--Weber Shandwick
Join the ‘adidas 46664 auction’ to own a piece of limited edition
FIFA World CupTM history
Wear ‘adidas UMU’ to celebrate the unity in South Africa
adidas is cordially inviting all football fans to share the spirits by making a cause to build the unity in South Africa, joining the two major fund raiser activities for Nelson Mandela’s 46664 Foundation.
adidas 46664 auction
As a result of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and the first time ever in the continent, adidas proudly launched the adidas 46664 auction; an exclusive opportunity for football fans all over the world to own a piece of limited edition FIFA World Cup? history. eBay will host an auction where fans can bid to own a number of unique lots which include ‘The Quest’ painting featuring 32 players from the 32 federations playing at the FIFA World Cup? which was unveiled by football legend Franz Beckenbauer last week, Steven Pienaar’s signed group stage shirts, 32 individual player portraits, ‘the Live Quest’ paintings and also the actual adidas Jo’bulani FIFA World Cup? Official Final Match Ball.
All unique pieces of art have been created by the adidas 2010 FIFA World Cup? artist team, Paul Junior Kasemwana and Espoir Kennedy. The two brilliant, up and coming African artists are permanently based at Jo’bulani Central, adidas’ PR headquarters during the tournament and are creating daily paintings which capture those moments on the pitch that make history — a wonder goal, a penalty shootout, pure elation, the pain of defeat, individual brilliance or team effort — these incredible moments form the Live Quest.
Each Live Quest painting is 270cm wide by 210cm high. These paintings, alongside the 32 individual player portraits and other limited edition adidas FIFA World Cup? lots, will be auctioned via www.ebay.co.uk/adidas46664auction throughout the tournament starting today and culminating on Monday, 12 July 2010, with the adidas Jo’bulani FIFA World Cup? Official Final Match Ball. All proceeds go to the Nelson Mandela 46664 Foundation.
‘adidas UMU’
Another cause event that adidas held prior the ‘adidas 46664 auction’ was the ‘adidas UMU’ campaign, which was created to inspire the world to celebrate diversity in unity while raising funds for Nelson Mandela’s 46664 foundation and developing long-term projects that leave a legacy long after the 2010 FIFA World Cup? is over. UMU stands for Unite Mzansi Unite (Mzansi means “South Africa” in Nguni Bantu language) and represents one of adidas’ key charitable efforts in South Africa.
The Unite Mzansi Unite campaign aims to follow in the footsteps of South Africa’s former President Nelson Mandela, rallying all South Africans to celebrate and host the 2010 FIFA World Cup? in unity. The UMU campaign was created to inspire South Africans to unite as a nation by wearing yellow, the colour of the new Bafana Bafana 2010 FIFA World Cup? home jersey.
adidas created a giant jersey which is currently touring South Africa via a huge adidas branded truck giving the entire nation, from school children to celebrities, the opportunity to sign the giant jersey as a demonstration of their support. Each person who signs the jersey receives a gift from adidas — a unique, multi-functional yellow product called the UMU, which allows each individual to wear it how he or she wants and celebrate their support for South African unity.
The founder of the 46664 charity, Nelson Mandela, comments: “Sport has the power to change the world, the power to inspire, the power to unite people in a way that little else can.”
adidas football superstar Steven Pienaar adds: “The adidas UMU campaign is very inspiring to me. I am so proud of my country and fully support South African unity in the build-up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup?. I am honoured that I will get to play in front of my nation who will be united and wearing yellow in support of us.”
The adidas jersey tour kicked off on 11 November 2009, at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) headquarters in Auckland Park in Johannesburg. Via all host cities of the 2010 FIFA World Cup? — and over 300 stops in-between — the adidas truck ended its seven-month journey in Johannesburg just before the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup?. Various activities have been taking place to entertain and engage South Africans during the tour. These include playing football on a mini-pitch, competitions and a speed goal kicking skills test.
Thai football fans can also help to raise the effort with ‘adidas UMU’ campaign by purchasing ‘UMU’ at all adidas Sport Performance Concept store and authorized dealers nationwide for Bt200, or make a purchase via www.adidas.com/unite . All profits go to support the Nelson Mandela 46664 Foundation.
The Quest
The Quest painting and the individual player portraits feature 32 players from all 32 federations playing at the 2010 FIFA World Cup?. They include FIFA World Player of the Year; Lionel Messi (Argentina) plus Steven Pienaar (South Africa), Jozy Altidore (U.S.A), Shunsake Nakamura (Japan), Salomon Kalou (C?te d’Ivoire), Robin van Persie (The Netherlands), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany), David Villa (Spain), Yoann Gourcuff (France), Steven Gerrard (England), Diego Forl?n (Uruguay), Andr?s Guardado (Mexico), Obafemi Martins (Nigeria), Chu-Young Park (South Korea), Theofanis Gekas (Greece), Karim Matmour (Algeria), Zlatko Dedic (Slovenia), John Paintsil (Ghana), Nikola Zigic (Serbia), Tim Cahill (Australia), Aur?lien Chedjou (Cameroon), Daniel Jensen (Denmark), Daniele De Rossi (Italy), Andrew Boyens (New Zealand), Nelson Valdez (Paraguay), Stanislav Sestak (Slovakia), An Yong Hak (North Korea), Tranquillo Barnetta (Switzerland), Sim?o (Portugal), Kak? (Brazil), Mark Gonzalez (Chile) and Maynor Figueroa (Honduras).
46664
Founded by Nelson Mandela and inspired by his Robben Island Prison Number, 46664 is the campaign vehicle of the charities established by Nelson Mandela designed to inspire individual and collective action towards a better world for everyone. On 11 November 2009, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution inviting the world to celebrate NELSON MANDELA INTERNATIONAL DAY (July 18th) — a day on which individuals around the globe are encouraged to donate at least 67 minutes of their time — in honour of Mr Mandela’s own 67-year service to humanity — doing something good for other people.
Notes to editors
The individual player portraits feature 32 players can be downloaded by the follow link, http://adidas.synapticdigital.com/IMAGE-BANK/artist-espoir-kennedy---adidas-player-portraits/s/ae73eb03-1874-4a96-9fc8-81144f290379 .
To watch, embed, link to and download multimedia content, please visit adidas social media newsroom, the adidas News Stream on www.adidasnewsstream.com. Alternatively visit the Digital Media Kit on www.adidas.com/fifaworldcup .
Follow adidas Facebook and Twitter at www.facebook.com/adidasfootball, www.twitter.com/adidasfifawc .
For further media information, please contact:
Onanong Pratakphiriya / Bhawat Anuwong
Weber Shandwick
Tel.: 0 2343 6000 ext 059 or 062
Email:
[email protected];
[email protected]