MILAN -- May will see the Gazprom youth football tournament take place in Milan and to promote this an International day of Football and Friendship was held that involved 90,000 people across the globe, from Algeria to Vietnam.

 The festival was held simultaneously across Africa, Asia, Europe and South America in the 32 participating countries, which this year was given the title of ‘Football for Friendship’, on Monday. 

 Participants met on their local football pitches to exchange Friendship bracelets as a symbolic element of the demonstration which this year sees a huge number of high-profile supporters such as Didier Drogba, Luis Fernandez, Martin Palermo, Dick Advocaat, Mario Gomez, Luis Neto, Anatoly Tymoshchuk and Julian Draxler, among many others.

 The bracelets are the symbol of the day and of the F4F programme and, with their sky blue and football pitch green bands, are intended to represent tolerance, equality and a healthy lifestyle.  After the bracelet exchange those involved took place in friendly matches, tournaments, open coaching with various football stars, media events and TV shows.

 The tournament’s ambassador Franz Beckenbauer told press, “Artists and journalists, children and adults, guys and girls, sportsmen, all have shared the same playing field and the same values promised by the F4F programme.”

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