Homeless World Cup kicks off in Oslo
OSLO - The 15th Homeless World Cup kicked off in Oslo on Aug. 29th. 500 players from more than 50 countries, Italy as well, made their way singing and dancing from Oslo Sentralstajon to the tournament venue at Rådhusplassen, The City Hall Square, where they were welcomed by Crown Princess Mette-Marit.
The Homeless World Cup will run from 29 August until 5 September. Matches are live streamed on the website and YouTube. It’s also possible keep up to date with the event via Facebook and Twitter.
The Homeless World Cup's reach extends much further than the 500 players who attend the annual event and has impacted the lives of one million people since being founded over a decade ago.
An estimated 100 million people are homeless worldwide. As many as 1.6 billion people lack access to adequate housing.
When a homeless person becomes involved in football, they build relationships. Football brings structure, support and a place of belonging. This works as a catalyst for positive change.
Each year, homeless people who were invisible on the streets become heroes on the pitch, standing proud representing their country as their lives are changed forever.
Italian participation is arranged by Asd Dogma Onlus, a non-profit organisation founded in 2011 in Milan to promote sports and physical education. They organise sports events with a strong social aspect, often in collaboration with private entities from Italy. In particular, Dogma Onlus promote sports for homeless people, people who suffer severe housing problems, or those who live in social community centres.
In addition to selecting and training the Italian Homeless World Cup Team, Dogma Onlus run three other projects: The Italian Homeless Cup, Calcio Solidale (Football Solidarity), and Scuola Solidale (School Solidarity).