Working with a team of athlete ambassadors, captained by Alessandro Del Piero, Save the Dream brought a day of sports to New York City.
Qatar Airways sponsored an event organised by Save the Dream, which featured a day of sporting activities at Times Square, New York, on Tuesday.
The event featured Olympic gold medallists, para-athletes and international music stars, all of whom came together to call for universal access to sport.
Save the Dream, an initiative of the International Centre for Sport Security in partnership with Qatar Olympic Committee, works to empower youth through sport towards a more fair and inclusive society, while promoting intercultural dialogue and social innovation through the power of its values.
Working with a team of athlete ambassadors, captained by soccer legend Alessandro Del Piero, Save the Dream brought a day of sports to New York City with the help of Qatar Airways, a statement noted.
Throughout the day, hundreds of children participated in a variety of sports activities on a specially constructed soccer pitch built in the centre of Times Square.
“Sport and global aviation are perfect ways to bring the world together,” said Qatar Airways Group chief executive Akbar al-Baker. “We are proud to sponsor Save the Dream, help support this worthwhile cause and help and encourage youth everywhere to achieve their dreams in sport and life.”
The day, which included the official participation of the UN Alliance for Civilisation, Unicef, the UN Office on Sport for Peace and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, commenced with a clinic offered by Street Soccer USA.
This was followed by a fencing exhibition, a ceremony for the newly crowned winners of the New York City Marathon and an address by athletes and leadership of the Special Olympics.
Organisations from all over the world, such as Barcelona Foundation, the Global Child Forum, Rota, Aspire and Qatar Stars League featured their programmes to promote education through sport.
Coming off their Italian Dancing with the Stars win, Guisy Versace and her dance partner Raimondo Todaro also graced the stage with a performance.
Finally, the day included appearances by international soccer player Cobi Jones, Olympic gold medallist Penny Heyns, football legends Fernando Hierro, Fernando Sanz, Edgar Davids and Christian Karembeu, the Italian rhythmic gymnastics team and 2006 World Cup champion Del Piero, all capped by a performance by Youssou N’Dour, who Rolling Stone magazine once described as “undoubtedly one of the most beloved artistes in the entire continent of Africa”.
N’Dour composed and performed the Save the Dream song, which is available for downloading from many music platforms. All revenues will support Save the Dream’s projects facilitating access to sport and education to young refugees.
Qatar Airways was also the exclusive sponsor of the official reception, which took place in Times Square at the Nasdaq Market and was attended by high-level UN officials and representatives from government, sport organisations and civil society from all around the world, including major US-based foundations.
The airline donated two business class tickets as part of the evening’s auction.
