Team spirit extends far beyond the football pitch as Barcelona has proved.


One year ago, FC Barcelona and UNICEF entered into an agreement which enabled Barca promote UNICEF's goals through helping orphaned children in vulnerable situations around the globe, in particular those affected by the HIV virus and AIDS. The agreement, which was signed on July14, 2006, has expereinced great success ever since. Aside from financial committments by Barcelona to the annual economic contribution to UNICEF, Barça has carried out several different projects through the clubs Foundation using the motto 'More Than A Club, A New Worldwide Hope For Vulnerable Children'.
Among the initiatives is one in Swaziland , the country most affected by AIDS. There is also the effort to draw attention to the cause worldwide with the UNICEF logo being placed on the football team's shirts, a logo FC Barcelona are happy to bear and proud to be associated with. As part of social networking, a football game was also organised between children in Uganda and Barça’s cadete side.


In recognititon of its laudable achievements, FC Barçelona were awarded the Spirit of Sport award at the last Laureus Awards ceremony held in April inside the city.

UNICEF was founded in 1946 by the United Nations General Assembly as a body saddled with the responsibilty of meeting urgent needs of children living in Europe who were caught up in the Post Second World war era. Since then however, UNICEF's work has extended far beyond Europe to other parts of the world.

After more than 100 years tonights match will go down in Barca´s history books as the first match ever in which Barca will wear the UNICEF logo on their famous Barca shirts.
Instead of wearing a company logo, (vsalue about € 20 mill. per year), Barca proves that they are "mes que un club" ("More than a Club"). Tonight, the team will appear on the pitch with the UNICEF Logo, to promote the UN´s millennium goal.

A special event will be held in honour, shortly before the game´s kick-off.

Barca´s official website announced that UNICEF and FC Barcelona will publicly announce their alliance to co-operate next Thursday.


Barça´s motto to be "More than a club" will be confirmed by this new and important project and will give a new global hope for vulnerable children. The presentation will be made at the United Nations central office in New York on the 7th September at 17:00 local time (23:00 GMT +2) under de guidance of the executive director of UNICEF, Margaret Venemen and president of FC Barcelona, Joan Laporta.


With this alliance, FC Barcelona will give financial support to projects around the globe. In particular, those which help to protect children where there are humanitarian crises and those where AIDS is on the increase.

FC Barcelona player Ronaldinho had the honour to receive a welcome usually reserved for the leaders of states in the United Nations headquarters in downtown Manhattan yesaterday. Barca superstar Ronaldinho signed an agreement to become the spokesman for the Development for Sport and Peace at the United Nations in New York on Friday to take on a leading role in international diplomacy. The press room was completely full, so journalist had to take place in the aisles to follow the press conference.


The Brazilian forward was met by Secretary General Kofi Annan and was signed up to become an ambassador for the organisation. Ronaldinho, an idol for many young football fans is proud to have commited himself for two years to mobilise young people to help fighting against poverty.
Ronaldinho will put himself completely at the disposal of the UN for a symbolic $ 1 per year.

Additionally, Ronnie will help to reach the targets set by the Millennium Goals campaign. The United Nations (UN) and FC Barcelona had already signed a collaboration agreement in May.


Ronaldinho proves that he is not only committed to football, but also to help for good causes and social matters. The Brazilian international was visibly touched and explained seriously his motivation to take on the challenge:

I am very, very happy and proud to take on this social challenge. Sport is a universal language without barriers. Football has given me a wonderful life and I believe that it is now my mission to give something back and help young people understand that power of sport can help make dreams become reality.

Barcelona caretaker president Sala i Martin expressed his feelings on the appointment of Ronaldinho as an ambassador for the UN. He believes that the appointment of Ronaldinho also proves that Barca is "More than a club". Barça´s former president Joan Laporta had already committed to give 0.7 per cent of FC Barcelona´s gross annual income to the UN charity. Sala i Martin said he was very proud that Ronaldinho is a Barca player and that the player will transmit the values of FC Barcelona around the world. He also believes that now many more people will understand that Barca "is more than a Club".

Catalan Television station TV3 has reported that FC Barcelona has agreed to wear the UNICEF logo on their famous Barca shirts next season.
FC Barcelona have never had a shirt sponsor in their over 100 years history, but have agreed to break with the tradition to support the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). A presentation will be made at the United Nations Headquarters in New York when the official contract will be signed.


Barca had several record-breaking sponsorship deals before, but Barcelona president Joan Laporta has always remained sensitive about a commercial sponsorship with a company's name on the jersey because it could have caused opposition among the club's faithful supporters.


Barca, the biggest football club in the world, are "more than a club" and are happy to be seen as a humanitarian club that wants to give his share to fight racism and poverty around the world. Barca already agreed a charity deal with UNICEF last month. The agreement between UNICEF and FC Barcelona will see Barca donate 0.7 % of their annual income (estimated to be over € 2 mill. next year) to the UN-Charity fund from the start of the 2006-07 season. FC Barcelona became the first football club ever to formally support the UN Millennium Development Goals campaign and hopes that other rich football Clubs will follow. The UN Millennium Development Goals campaign aims to halving extreme poverty, limiting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education by 2015 anog other targets.