Anthony Lake, the Executive Director of UNICEF, Ramon Pont, Vice President of the FC Barcelona Foundation and Marc Bartra, FC Barcelona player met with 75 schoolchildren to discuss the importance of sport in children’s lives. They also answered students’ questions about UNICEF, children in other countries, football and about why is FCB partnering with UNICEF.
“FC Barcelona is highly committed to work with UNICEF to advance the global message of the importance of children’s issues and to promote education and sport,” said Ramon Pont, Vice President of the FC Barcelona Foundation.
UNICEF recognises the critical role of sport and physical play in children’s lives. Participation by young people in sport and play contributes to their physical development and can teach basic values and life skills, such as discipline, leadership, teamwork, fairness and respect for others. Sport and play can also help fight discrimination and the exclusion of marginalised groups, including children with disabilities.
“All UNICEF team is delighted with its partnership with FC Barcelona. Through this partnership UNICEF and FC Barcelona are committed to provide millions of children the opportunity to receive an education and experience the happiness of sports, and learn positive values through physical education, sport and play,” said Anthony Lake, UNICEF Executive Director, in his first visit to FCB headquarters.
![]() |
![]() |
Participation by young people in sport and play contributes to their physical development and can teach basic values and life skills. | Sport and play can also help fight discrimination and the exclusion of marginalised groups. |
FCB contributes a total of around HK$15 millon (Euro 1.5 million) per year to support UNICEF’s work with the aim to reach millions of children in 16,000 schools in four countries: Brazil, China, Ghana and South Africa. Over 5,000 teachers and coaches are planned to be trained, and sport and sport values will be integrated in school programmes. Schools will also be provided with sports supplies and improved infrastructure for physical education, sport and play programmes.