FIFA allocates 120 000 free tickets

The tickets will be issued as a reward for thousands of South Africans, particularly the country's youth, who are involved in existing programmes aimed at encouraging participation in football and community-oriented initiatives and will act as a catalyst for the establishment of sustainable social and human development programmes using the game of football.

“The Ticket Fund aims to use the excitement and passion for the game in the country as a tool to motivate and engage people, particularly young South Africans, on topics such as education, health and the environment,” said the FIFA President, Joseph S Blatter. In September 2008, he nominated about 20 000 construction workers as the first beneficiaries of the Ticket Fund. Each worker will receive two tickets for a group stage match at the venue that they helped to build.

Focus on projects

The focus is on projects supported by the six FIFA Partners, Adidas, Coca-Cola, Emirates, Hyundai/Kia, Sony and Visa, through which 80 000 tickets will be assigned.

• Encouraging learning - Adidas will award 15 000 tickets in partnership with the Department of Education and the 2010 Organising Committee to encourage children participating in educational and soccer activities, which form part of the official schools' campaign, My 2010 School Adventure.
  
• Protecting the environment - Building on a partnership with the South African Department of Education established at the FIFA Confederations Cup, Coca-Cola hope to create a generation of environmentally aware children when they roll out a recycling programme to young learners in grades 8-12 in schools across South Africa. As an incentive, 20 000 tickets have been assigned to this project.
  
• Instilling a healthy lifestyle - Recognising the importance of promoting a healthy lifestyle amongst young children, KIA Motors will partner with Sporting Chance, a South African-based development organisation, to run street soccer leagues and accompanying health-education programmes in some of South Africa's poorest communities, where 4000 tickets will be awarded.
  
• Combating HIV/Aids - Sony has teamed up with Grassroot Soccer, a South African-based non-profit organisation that uses football as a common starting ground to promote the fight against HIV and Aids, to roll out programmes that educate children and young adults across South Africa and distribute 15 000 tickets.
  
• Inspiring financial literacy - Through Visa's financial literacy shows, low-income workers in the industrial and tourism sectors across South Africa will get the opportunity to learn basic financial skills. Visa will use 5000 tickets as incentives in this programme.
  
• Emirates and Hyundai have confirmed their enthusiasm and commitment to the Ticket Fund with plans to award 15 000 and 5000 tickets respectively.

Crucially, the fund initiative will not end when the final whistle is blown on 11 July 2010 but will continue to create opportunities for South Africans for years to come.

For further information and updates on the projects, visit www.FIFA.com.