Munich, Germany, 5 July 2006 – Infront Sports & Media, which handles the marketing of the global broadcast rights to the 2006 FIFA World Cup™, today donated to the Official Charity Campaign “6 villages for 2006” of SOS Children’s Villages and FIFA a sum of 700,000 Euro in respect of all the broadcast license fee income generated from commercial public viewing activities in Germany.

At a ceremony in the International Broadcast Centre in Munich, Günter Netzer, an Executive Director of Infront, presented the cheque for 700,000 Euro to Georg Willeit, Managing Director of the SOS Children's Villages worldwide, in the presence of FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter.

 

Infront sold a total of 170 licenses for commercial public viewing in Germany, which have so far been reflected in hundreds of events all over the country. All revenues will be donated in full and the final figure is expected to be significantly higher, once all income has been secured.

 

The public exhibition rights were granted free of charge to all non-commercial public viewing events including the Fan Fests of the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ at the 12 Host Cities.

 

The public viewing phenomenon in Germany has been a huge success – it is estimated that 12 million people watched the opening match (Germany v Costa Rica) out of home and for the Germany v Poland match, there were 11 million out of home viewers (Source: Forsa).  Public viewing is now seen as part of a marked social trend, bringing people together to gain more enjoyment from the experience of watching key matches on giant screens.

 

"We thank the organisers of the commercial public viewing events in Germany. It is their efforts and their success that has produced a result considerably greater than forecast” said Günter Netzer.

 

“This sum means that we will be able to build five family homes in one of the six villages and to secure its regular maintenance for five years", added Georg Willeit. “Infront’s generosity has given a big boost to the ‘6 Villages for 2006’ campaign and with this support we are able to provide 50 children with a new home and give them the chance for a new life”.

 

FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter: "Infront has helped to make public viewing in Germany into a powerful means of support for a very good cause. Football has an incredible power, which can be used to make the world a better place. FIFA is very happy with the outcome of this initiative and I would like to thank our TV Partner for its support.”

 

During the ceremony, the FIFA President also showed the exclusive 2006 FIFA World Cup™ autograph book containing the signatures of all 736 players and head coaches of the 32 finalist teams, currently being auctioned in favour of “6 Villages for 2006” on the www.sos-childrensvillages.org website, with bids to be made online until 23.59h on 9 July 2006.

 

“6 villages for 2006” is a joint campaign of FIFA and SOS Children's Villages, which will run until the final whistle of the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ in Germany. The goal is to raise funds for six new SOS Children's Villages in Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, Ukraine and Vietnam to provide needy children with a new home. For further information see the “6 Villages for 2006” website: www.6villagesfor2006.org.

 

A selection of high resolution images from the presentation of the cheque are available for press use from the Infront Press Image Library.

For further information please contact:

 

Jörg Polzer
Manager, Communication & PR
Infront Sports & Media AG
Event Tel. +49-(0)89-949 32 077 (until 10 July)
Event Mobile +49-(0)171-56 40 477 (until 10 July)
press infrontsports.com
www.infrontsports.com 

 

Wolfgang Kehl
Project Leader „6 Villages for 2006“
SOS Children’s Villages worldwide
Mobile +49-170-44 38 028
Fax +49-89-179 14 260
wolfgang.kehl sos-kd.org
www.sos-kinderdoerfer.de