Barça strengthens global social commitment

Washington (FCB).- Barça’s social commitment has taken on a further global character with the agreement signed with The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to work towards eradicating Polio. Mr Gates expressed his personal satisfaction at working with the Club.

Barça launched its message of its social commitment in Washington D.C. in collaboration with The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to end the scourge of polio. The US philanthropist praised the Club’s commitment at an event where he was accompanied by Club President Sandro Rosell and first team coach Josep Guardiola.

The disease which is most commonly contracted by children causes severe paralysis or death but can be prevented with a simple vaccine which costs $0.13 per dose. Since 1988, when 350,000 children died from the disease, there has been a reduction of polio cases by a staggering 99%. However, the Gates Foundation has been pushing for a total eradication of the devistating illness. This is the motivation behind the 'More than Just A Goal, End Polio' campaign which stresses that, just like on the football pitch, 99% is not enough.

Gates: “We share Barça’s values”

Bill Gates, who is now dedicating his time completely to his foundation, praised Barça’s commitment to social work: “they don’t just win out on the field, they also have their values off the pitch and those are the values which we share” The Microsoft co-founder also called Guardiola “a genius” celebrating the progress that the Club has made with its youth programme. Gates characterised the club as unique, stressing that “a foundation at a football club is really something out of the ordinary”.

Rosell: “Thank you for allowing us to work with you”

Club President Sandro Rosell explained that the deal had been agreed a month ago and went on to return the praise the Club had received from Mr Gates: “I’d like to stress his intelligence, but even more than that, his humanity and his ability to invest in other people through his philanthropic works”.

Mr Rosell continued: “I would like to thank you on behalf of the Club members for allowing us the opportunity to work with you”. He made it clear that the Club and its Foundation were prepared to work hand in hand with the Gates Foundation in other areas beyond the polio campaign. “It is a great honour to be able to lend a hand here” admitted the President, who also stressed the ability of football, and particularly the global position of the Club, to communicate positive messages to children.

The power of sport

Pep Guardiola echoed the President’s feelings about the power of the game, claiming: “we know that many millions of children throughout the world look to us and we have a great responsibility. When I see what is happening in places like Somalia, it makes me happy that I am at a club which promotes the values that ours does”, Andres Iniesta and Eric Abidal also attended the event which was widely covered by the US media.