- Title: Pele brings sporting stars together for COVID-19 charity auction
- Date: 23rd August 2021
- Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (AUGUST 22, 2021) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CFO OF JULIEN'S AUCTIONS, MARTIN NOLAN, SAYING: "Of course, Pele is such a legend, he's an icon. Other sports stars look up to Pele. And personally, Pele's one of my favourite clients I've ever worked with, so he was able to make the cause and because he was at home in his bubble, he had the time to focus on this project. And you'll see Pele talking about these items and gathering up these jerseys - a jersey signed by Ronaldo. Of course, his friend Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain is a 21 or 22-year-old kid, 'Prince', and of course he's really friendly with Pele, the 'King', and so that's a great bond. And he's donated. Franco Harris from the NFL has donated. There's a gold boot, which is one of my favourite pieces, it's like a sculpture by Dante (Mortet) which is a really good piece. Yeah, it's a very diverse auction. It's great sports items and personal items from Pele as well. Someone even donated a plate, so it's a fun auction. Of course, because it's for charity people are going to want to own something from that coming from Pele and his friends, but also, to help out people who are still really troubled and suffering from COVID. And we need to get vaccines and get life going again." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CFO OF JULIEN'S AUCTIONS, MARTIN NOLAN, SAYING: "So anything from Pele, people would want. But you know, we mentioned Ronaldo, I mentioned Mbappe. You know, those icons will be sought after. But again, because it is a charity auction, people always show up. They're always extremely generous and they pay more than even for a normal auction because they know it's also going to helping a good cause."
- Embargoed: 6th September 2021 10:06
- Keywords: COVID-19 Julien's Auction House Kylian Mbappe Pele Ronaldo auction relief
- Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES / UNKOWN LOCATION, BRAZIL
- City: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES / UNKOWN LOCATION, BRAZIL
- Country: Brazil
- Topics: South America / Central America,Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA002ERI2EL5
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Want a Brazil jersey owned by Pele? An All Blacks shirt signed by Dan Carter? A New York Yankees photo autographed by Derek Jeter? David Beckham's AC Milan shirt?
Those items, plus others from Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe, are among 229 that will be up for sale next month at an auction organised by Pele for the foundation he created in 2018.
The Brazilian, the only player to claim three World Cup winner's medals and a man often called the greatest soccer player of all time, said all monies raised will help Brazil's fight against and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
So far 575,000 people have died in Brazil from COVID-19, the second-highest death toll in the world after the United States.
"Pele is such a legend, he's an icon and other sports stars look up to Pele," Martin Nolan, Executive Director and CFO of Beverly Hills-based Julien's Auctions, told Reuters.
"Because he was at home in his bubble he had the time to focus on this project."
Pele has provided some of his own items for the Sept. 22 auction but he has also called in favours from friends in the sport and entertainment worlds.
There are Brazil, Santos, and New York Cosmos jerseys and photos autographed by the 80-year-old Pele, and others signed by ex-Brazil teammates such as Rivellino, Jairzinho, and Clodoaldo.
Mario Zagallo, the coach of the revered 1970 Brazil World Cup-winning side, who turned 90 earlier this month, also contributed as did Neymar, Italy's Roberto Baggio, and Roger Milla of Cameroon.
World Cup winner Franz Beckenbauer signed a number of photographs from his New York Cosmos and West Germany days; there's a match ball from the 2015 Champions League final and shirts and equipment used in basketball, American football, field hockey, and water polo are also up for grabs.
One of the items expected to fetch a high price is a gold-plated bronze cast of Pele's foot made by celebrity sculptor Dante Mortet.
Outside soccer, pop star Justin Timberlake, former tennis champion Maria Sharapova, actor Mark Wahlberg and the NBA all donated items.
"Anything from Pele people will want, but you mention Ronaldo, you mention Mbappe, those icons will be sought after," said Nolan of the Portugal and France forwards.
"But because it is a charity auction people always show up, they are always extremely generous and they pay more than in a normal auction because they know it is going to a good cause."
In 2016 Pele auctioned more than 1,600 items from a collection he accumulated over six decades in the limelight and raised 3.6 million pounds ($4.90 million).
This latest auction will take place at the Mall Galleries in London and is also open to online bidders.
($1 = 0.7341 pounds)
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