May 17 2005
FIFA General Secretary visits SOS Children's Villages in Brazil
17/05/2005 - Urs Linsi, the General Secretary of world football's governing body FIFA visited the SOS Children's Village Pedra Bonita in Rio de Janeiro, shortly after the final whistle of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2005 in Brazil on Sunday.
Children in the care of SOS Children's Villages who form part of a children's orchestra, staged a small concert for Urs Linsi in the garden of the facility in Pedra Bonita, some 30 kilometres from the centre of Rio de Janeiro. Linsi was visually impressed by the performance and said: "Just as on the football pitch, consideration, respect and solidarity are also important for the good teamwork of an orchestra."
Linsi also visited one of the eleven family houses in the SOS Children's Village Pedra Bonita, which carries the name of "Joao Havelange" - the former FIFA President who initiated the cooperation between FIFA and SOS Children's Villages back in 1995.
FIFA and SOS Children's Villages are currently engaged in a major fundraising campaign "6 villages for 2006 - the Official Charity Campaign of the 2006 FIFA World Cup TM" - which will run until the final whistle of the final match at the event which will be held in Germany.