PUMA and UNEP Unveil World’s First Continental Kit
– Eto’o & Cameroon Help Launch Strategic Partnership to Support the 2010
International Year of Biodiversity
PUMA and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) were joined
today by the Indomitable Lions –
team captain
biodiversity worldwide and specific initiatives in
The ‘Play for Life’ partnership will support the 2010 International Year
of Biodiversity by raising awareness about habitat and species conservation
among football fans and the general public during worldwide football events,
including the Orange Cup of African Nations in
international friendly games leading up to the FIFA World Cup 2010 in
Africa
of innovation with
effort with UNEP.
At their ‘Play for Life’ press conference held today in
PUMA unveiled their key fundraising lever, the revolutionary new Africa Unity
Kit – the world’s first ‘continental football kit’ designed to be worn by the
12 African football national teams that PUMA sponsors. These include the
World Cup qualified teams
headed to the Africa Cup of Nations’ with hosts
of
of
best players –
The Africa Unity Kit has been approved by FIFA who have officially
recognised it as the Official 3rd kit to be worn by those PUMA-sponsored
African teams.
With all eyes on
Kit makes a compelling global statement. By supporting the Africa Unity Kit,
African teams are not only uniting as a powerful force in world football, but
also raising awareness of the importance of environmental issues. PUMA’s
profits from sales of the replica fanwear for the Unity Kits will help fund
biodiversity programs in
continent such as lions, elephants, gorillas and the desert fox.
“In 2010,
‘Play for Life’ campaign and the release of the Africa Unity Kit is a
powerful statement for PUMA. PUMA is creating a unique kit embracing the
diversity of African Nations teams while valuing the unity of players and
supporters towards a common goal,” said
AG who helped launch the Africa Unity Kit. “Biodiversity and therefore
valuing and protecting all life on our planet is a huge issue, not only in
both awareness and funds through the sale of our Unity products.”
During 2010, PUMA is planning a range of products designed to generate
additional funds to support biodiversity, including PUMA Unity t-shirts and
PUMA Lacelets, collectable shoe laces featuring patterns from world-renowned
artist
which gives consumers an easy way to identify products that benefit projects
supported by PUMAVision, PUMA’s Corporate Social Responsibility Program. A
portion of the profits from the Yellow “life” label products will also go to
fund the biodiversity programmes.
The International Year of Biodiversity (IYB) is a global initiative
launched by the United Nations for 2010 to help raise awareness on the
importance of biodiversity and to encourage worldwide action to conserve
plants and animals and the environments in which they live. The ‘Play for
Life’ campaign focuses on
biodiversity including two of the five most important wilderness areas on
Earth – the
Africa
threatened reservoirs of plant and animal life on Earth, are also in
According to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), biodiversity
is under threat around the planet – we are creating the greatest extinction
crisis since the natural disaster that wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million
years ago. Species have been disappearing at up to 1,000 times the natural
rate, and this is predicted to rise dramatically. Based on current trends, an
estimated 34,000 plant and 5,200 animal species – including one in eight of
the world’s bird species – face extinction.
“As the whole planet comes together for the World Cup,
year when people around the world will unite to conserve the planet’s almost
priceless natural resource – its biodiversity. UNEP is delighted to partner
with PUMA to bring this important message to millions of fans,” said
Cropper
“The planet’s living organisms are the building blocks of the
multi-trillion dollar services – from freshwater to agricultural nutrients -
that underpin all life on Earth including its economic, social and sporting
life. Bringing together the public’s global passion for football with its
global passion for animals, plants and other life-forms surely makes a
match-winning team,” she added.
unveiling in
and my teammates. Not only are we very proud to wear a shirt that helps bring
the continent of
truly an honour. Supporting the Africa Unity Kit sends out a positive message
for
The UNEP-PUMA ‘Play for Life’ campaign will support the International
Year of Biodiversity by:
- Raising awareness worldwide about biodiversity and the International
Year of Biodiversity among football fans and the general public during
football events including the African Nations Cup and international
friendly games
- Raising awareness through Public Service Announcements featuring
football stars
- Encouraging the public to take action to conserve biodiversity
- Raising funds through the Africa Unity Kit and other PUMA Unity
football products under the Yellow "life" label to support biodiversity
projects in Africa.
Please Visit: http://www.pumafootball.com, http://www.unep.org,
http://vision.puma.com
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SOURCE PUMA