FC Barcelona plays Manchester City - and refugee children are the winners
In front of more than 94,000 fans, Barcelona players sport a new shirt to raise money for sports and education for refugee children.
BARCELONA, Spain, August 24 (UNHCR) - When FC Barcelona took to the field for the 44th Joan Gamper Trophy last week, what mattered to 25 million refugees and others helped by UNHCR around the world was not the outcome - Barcelona lost 1-0 to Manchester City - but the distinctive jerseys the Spanish side were wearing.
In front of more than 94,000 fans who turned out for the annual pre-season competition that carries the name of the founder of FC Barcelona, the players sported new MÉS campaign jerseys specially designed by Nike for the occasion.
MÉS is an alliance between FC Barcelona, Nike and UNHCR launched last year with the slogan "More than a Club" to raise money for sports and education projects for young and vulnerable refugees by selling specially-designed sweatshirts, tee shirts and caps.
By wearing the newest jerseys, the FC Barcelona players intended to draw attention to the plight of the 42 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, nearly 25 million of whom were receiving protection or assistance from UNHCR at the end of 2008.
FC Barcelona President Joan Laporta said the club's commitment to work with UNHCR "is what makes us different from our competitors. It means commitment and solidarity, and Barcelona's solidarity is now a reality."
A limited edition of 1,899 of the new jerseys are being produced worldwide, the number corresponding to the year FC Barcelona was founded. The limited edition MÉS jersey will be sold exclusively in three Barcelona stores and online through the website www.mesfootball.org.
The jerseys the players wore in last week's game against Manchester City of the English Premier League will also be auctioned in September to raise more money for UNHCR projects, which have already benefited thousands of refugee children in Nepal, Ecuador, and Rwanda.
By Rosa Otero
in Barcelona, Spain
Related news and stories
Football brings refugees and host community together in Angola
Ukrainian refugees relieve stress with a support dog named Noir
Goal Click allows displaced people to document the healing power of football
A safe space for Ukraine's refugees in Romania
UNHCR, UNICEF establish dozens of support hubs in countries hosting Ukrainian refugees
'I have seen first-hand how children's education has suffered'
-
Giovanni Davila
15 Feb 2022 -
Silva Alkebeh
15 Feb 2022 -
Communities in Niger adapt to displacement and a changing climate
11 Feb 2022 In a region hit by rising displacement and temperatures, one town in northern Niger is harnessing the cooperation of local and displaced communities to find solutions. -
UNHCR steps up aid for displaced in Myanmar as conflict intensifies
11 Feb 2022 -
IOM and UNHCR call for more international support to Niger after joint visit
11 Feb 2022 -
Displaced families in crisis-hit Myanmar struggle for survival
11 Feb 2022 Some 440,000 people forced from their homes inside the country since February 2021 have sought refuge wherever they can, often fleeing again and again. -
UNHCR's approach to forcibly displaced and stateless persons with disabilities - 2022
11 Feb 2022 -
Cameroonian refugees help bust COVID-19 myths in Nigeria
10 Feb 2022 Refugee volunteers in Nigeria's Cross River State use verified information and their links to the community to combat dangerous misinformation about the virus and its vaccines. -
La protección de las personas desplazadas internas: Manual para las Instituciones Nacionales de Derechos Humanos
8 Feb 2022