BRAZIL: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Street Child World Cup participants visit Rios Christ statue and Marcana stadium

Record ID: 174171

  • Title: BRAZIL: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Street Child World Cup participants visit Rios Christ statue and Marcana stadium
  • Date: 31st March 2014
  • Summary: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (MARCH 31, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CHRIST THE REDEEMER STATUE VARIOUS OF CHILDREN POSING FOR PHOTOS IN FRONT OF STATUE VARIOUS OF CHILDREN AT THE STATUE, RIO COASTLINE SPREAD OUT BELOW VARIOUS OF CHILDREN POSING FOR PHOTOS PARTICIPATING CHILD FROM ZIMBABWE, OLIVIA, WITH TEAMMATES (SOUNDBITE) (English) PARTICIPATING CHILD FROM ZIMBABWE, OLIVIA, SAYING: "I think it is a nice place. It's wonderful, the way it is made, it shows that Christ is all over. Thank you." OLIVIA POSES WITH OTHER CHILDREN FROM ZIMBABWE BRAZILIAN PARTICIPANT, JESICA OLIVEIRA, HOLDING BRAZILIAN FLAG WITH ANOTHER PARTICIPANT (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) BRAZILIAN PARTICIPANT, JESICA OLIVEIRA, SAYING: "I am very thankful that he offered those of us from Rio the opportunity to have a chance to come and see the Christ." VARIOUS OF CHILDREN POSING FOR PHOTOS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PARTICIPANT FROM ARGENTINA, MARTIN, SAYING: "Yeah, it's really beautiful. It is my first time here and it is great seeing the Christ and the city. You can see the whole city and it is beautiful." VARIOUS OF CITY OF RIO BELOW VARIOUS OF CHILDREN SINGING AND DANCING MARACANA STADIUM VARIOUS OF CHILDREN ARRIVING AT THE STADIUM VARIOUS OF THE STADIUM GROUNDS VARIOUS OF CHILDREN POSING FOR PHOTOS INSIDE THE STADIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) PARTICIPANT FROM LIBERIA, PHALA PACHO, SAYING: "I feel very fine to see the beautiful stadium and I am very happy to be (inaudible)." PARTICIPANT FROM THE UNITED STATES, ULISSES JUARES, TAKING A PHOTO (SOUNDBITE) (English) PARTICIPANT FROM THE UNITED STATES, ULISSES JUARES, SAYING: "Oh yes, that would be a dream come true for me. Great players have played here, Pele. That would be just great to represent my country in this amazing stadium." VARIOUS OF THE STADIUM GROUNDS
  • Embargoed: 15th April 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAWIEEV3XJFSF9O4MG65WCIDF5
  • Story Text: The Street Child World Cup participants took a break from competition to tour two of Rio de Janeiro's top attractions on Monday (March 31).
    They started their day at the iconic Christ the Redeemer statues, posing for photos and enjoying the incredible view of Rio.
    Olivia from Zimbabwe was impressed.
    "I think it is a nice place. It's wonderful, the way it is made, it shows that Christ is all over. Thank you," Olivia said.
    Olivia is one of over 230 children aged 14-17 from 19 countries participating in the ten-day event to help raise awareness to the plight of disadvantaged youths.
    The event, which kicked off Sunday (March 30), is both a girls' and a boys' soccer tournament and art showcase, according to the Save the Children organization.
    Even though she already lives in Rio, participant Jesica Oliveira was happy to make the trip with all the children seeing the Christ statue for the first time.
    "I am very thankful that he offered those of us from Rio the opportunity to have a chance to come and see the Christ," Oliveira said.
    Martin from Argentina was amazed by the spectacular view of Rio.
    "Yeah, it's really beautiful. It is my first time here and it is great seeing the Christ and the city. You can see the whole city and it is beautiful," Martin said.
    The children also took an exclusive tour of Rio's iconic Maracana stadium.
    Maracana will host the World Cup final in July and is Brazil's most famous soccer stadium.
    Phala Pacho from Liberia enjoyed seeing the recently renovated stadium.
    "I feel very fine to see the beautiful stadium and I am very happy to be (inaudible)," Pacho said.
    According to Save the Children - who helped organize the Street Child World Cup - millions of children around the world live and work on the street without protection and opportunity.
    The event aims to give hope to kids that suffer from a life on the street while also continuing the dialogue on what can be done to help children who live on the street.
    U.S. participant Ulisses Juares couldn't help but let himself dream a little bit big about maybe representing his country one day on such historic ground.
    "Oh yes, that would be a dream come true for me. Great players have played here, Pele. That would be just great to represent my country in this amazing stadium," Juares said.
    Figures such as David Beckham, Sir Alex Ferguson and Archbishop Desmond Tutu have all endorsed the Street Child World Cup.
    The first such tournament for street kids was held in 2010 in South Africa.
    The official 2014 World Cup kicks off in Brazil on June 12.
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