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.
Playing for refugees:
FC Barcelona debuted MÉS jerseys to raise money for UNHCR sports and education projects during a game against Manchester City on August 19. © Photo copyright and courtesy of FC Barcelona
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'
-
Statement of Bangladesh on burden and responsibility sharing (Roundtable on the GCR Indicator launch, panel 1)
1 Dec 2021 Intervention from Bangladesh at the first preparatory roundtable on the GCR Indicator Report, panel on "Burden and responsibility sharing: what have we achieved and where do we go next?" -
Drumming against gender-based violence in Ecuador
1 Dec 2021 -
Summary of Roundtable 4: Self-reliance
1 Dec 2021 This document summarizes the roundtable on self-reliance, the fourth of a series of five preparatory roundtables to be held in the lead-up to the High-Level Officials Meeting. -
News Comment: UNHCR: Afghans struggle to seek safety as borders remain shut to most
1 Dec 2021 -
Evaluation of the Action Access pilot
1 Dec 2021 UNHCR has commissioned NatCen Social Research to undertake an independent evaluation of Action Access, the first pilot in the Community Engagement Pilot (CEP) series. This final evaluation report brings together findings from all elements of the evaluation to identify lessons learned from the Action Access pilot that can inform decision-making around further development and implementation of alternatives to detention in the UK and beyond. Attachments: Evaluation of the Action Access pilot (Executive summary) (.pdf) -
Resettlement Fact Sheet 2021
Dec 2021 -
UNHCR appalled by killings of dozens of displaced people by armed groups in eastern DRC
30 Nov 2021 -
Profiles of panelists: Preparatory Roundtable on Self-reliance
30 Nov 2021 Short profiles of all panelists who were part of the Preparatory Roundtable on Self-reliance. -
Refugees Fight Fires To Save Their Environment
30 Nov 2021