Aug
4
At Olympics “Giving is Winning”
August 4, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Five days and counting …
With the Games of the 29th Olympiad set to start 8-8-08, the athletes are arriving in Beijing, China by the teamfuls. Nearly 10,000 athletes will be competing for their countries. And while they’re staying in the Olympic Village, each can make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate, by donating unused athletic clothing to refugees, in the “Giving is Winning” campaign.
Launched last year by the IOC and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Giving is Winning campaign aims to collect 50,000 athletic clothing items. The sports gear will then be distributed by the UNHCR to various refugee camps across the world.
As António Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees explains: “Refugee youth have often suffered terribly and witnessed war first hand. Some refugees are born in camps, others grow up in camps, which can mean a lifetime with little or no access to sport or recreation. The gift of sportswear from Olympic athletes around the globe inspires refugees and connects them to the world of sports. Beyond happiness it brings them hope.”
Final Score:
49,426 items of clothing or 9.95 containers have been collected to date
How you can get in the game:
Visit the Giving is Winning website to make a donation
