Press releases

1 Apr 2016

Kirill Shimko named ambassador of Gazprom’s Football for Friendship project

MINSK, 1 April (BelTA) – Belarusian strongman Kirill Shimko has been named Belarus’ ambassador of the international children’s project Football for Friendship organized by Gazprom. He will support young BATE players during the fourth season of the social project, BelTA learned from the organizers.

Last year, Belarus’ Football for Friendship ambassador was singer Teo. He gave Kirill Shimko a symbolic friendship bracelet thereby promoting the key values of friendship, equality, fairness, health, and peace. In 2015, Teo actively supported the Belarusian team during the celebrations of the International Day of Football and Friendship. He also attended other events with the participation of young BATE players.

Partaking in the fourth season of the Football for Friendship project will be eight members of the junior BATE team born in 2004.

“For the young BATE players this project is a wonderful opportunity to take part in an international tournament and compete with their peers from Europe’s biggest football clubs. It is also an opportunity to build ties of friendship and exchange experience. Such projects certainly foster people’s interest in children’s and youth football, sport and a healthy lifestyle,” coach of the junior BATE team Alexander Mikhailov said.

On 27 and 28 May the Belarusian players will meet peers from other countries at the International Street Soccer Tournament in Milan. Together with other teams, they will visit the 2016 UEFA Champions League Final at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro).

The geographical scope of the project grows considerably with each passing year. Partaking in this year’s edition of the project will be young football players from 32 countries of Europe, Asia, and America.