South Korea’s iconic midfielder Park Ji-sung  has praised the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) for making corporate social responsibility a fundamental part of the 2022 FIFA World Cup legacy plans. 
The 2002 FIFA World Cup semi-finalist has been a member of the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) Corporate Social Responsibility Committee since 2015 and, from 2010, has been running his philanthropic organisation.
The JS Foundation raises funds for improving football infrastructure for socially and economically underprivileged children in South Korea, North Korea and across the East Asian region.
The former Manchester United midfielder, who won the UEFA Champions League in 2008, praised the SC for fusing football with social development through its flagship CSR initiative Generation Amazing.
“I understand that Qatar’s 2022 committee promotes social development through football, and that Xavi is the ambassador,” said Park. 
Generation Amazing was launched in 2010, when it was established during Qatar’s bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.  Following Qatar winning hosting rights, the programme was immediately established by the SC.
Its goal is to use football for development initiatives to address social issues in countries with an identified need, and unite communities using the power of sport. To date, it has already launched programmes across the world, from the Atlantic coast of Brazil to the foothills of the Himalayas in Nepal.
“The AFC also gives a lot of importance to social responsibility through football and everyone in the football industry must follow these examples,” he continued.
“Football gives happiness to all children, and from 2010 it has been my passion to enable underprivileged kids spend quality time on the field.
“They all take away something out of the experience – it gives confidence to them though only some want to become professionals; some learn the key concepts of team work and discipline; a few others cherish it because it helps them to keep out of trouble in the big bad world.” 
Park, who retired from international action in 2011 after earning his 100th international cap, added: “Children across political cultures, continents, races and cultures react similarly. Having spent a lot of time with them over the last few years, I can endorse that football and sport only unites. If people with vested interests want to use the sport to divide people it is wrong.”
As well as praising the work being carried out away from the bright lights of elite sport, Park did take a moment to reminisce about one memory from his glittering playing days – with a man who, like him, is now championing CSR through the power of football.
With a wry smile, he fondly recalled a memory with another legend of the game, and now Generation Amazing Ambassador, Xavi Hernández.  
He was, of course, referring to an encounter with Spain’s 2010 FIFA World Cup winner – at the 2002 FIFA World Cup quarter-final at the Gwangju World Cup Stadium (now renamed the Guus Hiddink Stadium).
“We both converted penalties in the tie-breaker, but it turned out to be a memorable occasion for me as we became the first and only Asian nation to reach a World Cup semi-final,” he said. 
Park concluded by identifying a common ground between the first and the second World Cup tournaments hosted by Asia: “Playing a World Cup at home and reaching the semi-final has been the highlight of my professional career and I thank Korean fans and countrymen for coming together as one. 
“The magnificent stadiums built for the tournament, including Gwangju, have served Korean clubs, cities and local communities and I understand the stadiums for 2022 are also being built to serve a similar purpose.”
       (SC.qa)