COUNTDOWN BEGINS FOR MELBOURNE’S HOMELESS WORLD CUP

Thursday, 28 August 2008
Premier John Brumby today joined celebrations at Federation Square to mark the 100-day countdown to the Melbourne 2008 Homeless World Cup final.
Melbourne will host around 500 competitors from 56 nations at the sixth Homeless World Cup from 1-7 December, with more than 400 street football matches to be played on custom-built pitches at Federation Square and Birrarung Marr.

Mr Brumby said the Homeless World Cup was an important international football tournament that used the power of sport to the change lives of participants.

“The Victorian Government is proud to be part of an event with the ultimate goal of raising public awareness and encouraging all members of the community to take positive steps to address homelessness,” Mr Brumby said.

“The challenges of homelessness are substantial but the gains for participants and the wider community in overcoming the barriers to success are clear.

“Previous Homeless World Cups have delivered real benefits to those involved – research has shown that over 70 per cent of players go on to find a home, come off drugs and alcohol, move into education, jobs and training and develop better relationships with friends and family.”

The Victorian Government has provided $850,000 to the free event and is working in partnership to host the tournament with The Big Issue, the City of Melbourne, the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), Nike, BHP Billiton, Goldman Sachs JBWere, Jo-Anne and Greg Beirne, and the Macquarie Group Foundation.

Sport and Recreation Minister James Merlino said the Homeless World Cup was a welcome and fitting addition to Victoria’s world-famous calendar of premier sporting events.

“The Homeless World Cup not only adds another dimension to Victoria’s proud line-up of international sporting events, it also demonstrates the positive power of sport to tackle the issue of homelessness and poverty worldwide,” Mr Merlino said.

“The players who will make the trip to Melbourne to compete in the Cup are an inspiration to others facing homelessness or disadvantage.”

Housing Minister Richard Wynne said the Victorian Government was committed to providing support and pathways into secure, affordable and appropriate housing for the thousands of Victorians who find themselves homeless or at risk of homelessness each year.

“Victoria has led the way nationally in developing models to assist homeless people for more than 20 years. We already provide more accommodation for homeless people than any state, with 50 per cent of all transitional accommodation in Australia located within Victoria,” Mr Wynne said.

For more information about the 2008 Homeless World Cup visit www.homelessworldcup.org