FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp (NYSE: FDX) and the world’s largest express transportation company, and the UEFA Foundation for Children are offering children an unexpected opportunity at this year’s UEFA Europa League Final on May 16, 2018.
As Main Sponsor of the UEFA Europa League, FedEx Express collaborates with the UEFA Foundation for Children on initiatives that use football as a platform to connect people to new possibilities. This will be the third occasion that charities based in the host city of the UEFA Europa League Final have been engaged to offer children a chance to be player escorts at this prestigious match. The activity complements FedEx Cares, the company’s broader commitment to invest in communities where its team members live and work around the world.
“Many children in the care of charities face very challenging life circumstances. For them, to step out onto the field at the UEFA Europa League Final is something completely out of the ordinary, and you can see the joy on their faces on the night,” said Jerome Ovion, vice president, Hub Operations, FedEx Express, France.
French non-profit Sport dans la Ville was invited to select the 22 children who will accompany the professional players out onto the field. FedEx Express engaged its UEFA Europa League ambassador, Ruud Gullit, to deliver the news to the children during a behind the scenes stadium tour of the Stade de Lyon.
“The news that the children would escort their most admired football stars onto the field at the UEFA Europa League Final was completely unexpected—a possibility many would not even have dreamt of,” said Hélène Blondel-Ehni, director of Partnerships, Sport dans la Ville.
“For the third consecutive year, FedEx Express and UEFA Foundation for Children are able to give children in the UEFA Europa League host city a moment to shine,” said Pascal Torres, general secretary, UEFA Foundation for Children.
The children will lead professional players from Marseille and Atlético onto the field at Stade de Lyon on May 16, 2018, where for a brief moment, they themselves will be stars of the UEFA Europa League Final.
You can view the video of Ruud Gullit delivering the news to the children during a behind the scenes stadium tour of the Stade de Lyon here.