SOCCER-HOMELESS Amsterdam prepares to host the 13th edition of the Homeless World Cup

Record ID: 140113

  • Title: SOCCER-HOMELESS Amsterdam prepares to host the 13th edition of the Homeless World Cup
  • Date: 10th September 2015
  • Summary: AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS (SEPTEMBER 8, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF DUTCH HOMELESS WOMEN'S TEAM (IN ORANGE) PLAYING AGAINST AMSTERDAM FOOTBALL CLUB AJAX WOMEN'S TEAM MAN ON BENCH WATCHING MATCH DUTCH HOMELESS PLAYER SCORING (SOUNDBITE) (Dutch) DUTCH HOMELESS PLAYER, ROXEANNE OCKHUIZEN, SAYING: "Football clears your mind, especially when things aren't going very well at home. For me it's a good reason to do this, so I have a bit of distraction. I've been doing this since I was five, so this is the 16th year now, it's a lot of fun, I like it a lot." HOMELESS PLAYERS EXERCISING VARIOUS OF CONSTRUCTION OF HOMELESS WORLD CUP STANDS (SOUNDBITE) (English) HOMELESS WORLD CUP DUTCH ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEMBER, SANDER MALLIE, SAYING: "Actually it's the thirteen edition here in Amsterdam and we are very excited that this weekend over 500 players from 49 countries will travel to Amsterdam and hopefully have the experience of their life." VARIOUS OF STANDS BEING CONSTRUCTED
  • Embargoed: 25th September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Netherlands
  • Country: Netherlands
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA97NQKLOR9DR2KCEK7N9HM8VIB
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Amsterdam will host the 13th edition of the Homeless World Cup from Saturday (September 12), with players from 49 nations set to travel to the Dutch capital for the tournament.
    The idea behind the contest is to use soccer to inspire homeless people to change their lives, with the hope that they can improve social relations and develop a sense of empowerment.
    Dutch homeless player Roxeanne Ockhuizen said she has been playing football since a young age.
    "Football clears your mind, especially when things aren't going very well at home. For me it's a good reason to do this, so I have a bit of distraction. I've been doing this since I was five, so this is the 16th year now, it's a lot of fun, I like it a lot," she told Reuters Television.
    A total of 64 teams will participate in the event, with 4-a-side fast-paced games played in two halves of seven minutes each.
    Players competing will play in Amsterdam's Museum Square to a crowd that will include Dutch King Willem-Alexander, which one of the Dutch tournament's organisers Sander Mallie said will be an unforgettable moment.
    "Actually it's the thirteen edition here in Amsterdam and we are very excited that this weekend over 500 players from 49 countries will travel to Amsterdam and hopefully have the experience of their life," he said.
    The first Homeless World Cup took place in Graz in 2003, with the event growing steadily ever since.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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