Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo knows that when he finds the net at UEFA EURO 2008, his goals are helping the tournament's key humanitarian cause.
Ronaldo is ambassador for the online Score for the Red Cross fundraising campaign, part of the official UEFA EURO 2008 humanitarian project launched by UEFA together with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Red Cross societies of the nations playing in the tournament in Austria and Switzerland. His goal in Portugal's 3-1 Group A success against the Czech Republic yesterday gave him special pleasure.
Speaking after the game, Ronaldo dedicated his goal to the Score for the Red Cross campaign. "My goal goes to the Red Cross which makes me very proud," he said.
The campaign benefits landmine victims in Afghanistan and, for the first time, UEFA is directly linking its support to what happens on the field of play - every goal scored (except in penalty shoot-outs) during the finals will be worth a donation of €4,000.
The ICRC will use the funds raised in this way to help landmine victims in Afghanistan walk again. The provision of artificial limbs and gradual rehabilitation helps to restore lost dignity. The ICRC also facilitates reintegration into family and community life by offering vocational training and the possibility to start a small business. Half of the donations registered coming from residents of one of the 16 finalist countries will go to a project of their national Red Cross society.
The other major innovation is that fans have the possibility to participate. Football fans are invited to buy virtual goals at scorefortheredcross.org for their favourite team. A league table shows which competing sides have had the most charity goals scored for them.
