Saudi children in key World Cup role
Jeddah, July 8, 2014
McDonald Saudi Arabia hosted eight children at the Fifa World Cup as its World Cup Player Escort Program as Chile and Spain faced-off last week.
The children accompanied the Chilean and Spanish players hand-in-hand on the pitch, ahead of the match that left the Chilean team victorious.
Aged between six and ten, they were selected from a draw that garnered an overwhelming response from all over the kingdom.
Among those selected were, Faris Nawaf AlKhamis, MJD Khalid AlNaqeeb, Yousef Maher Adas, Hussein Abdelrahman, Abdulaziz Chemsi Bacha, Yazeed Mohammed Al Faify, Mohsen Nasser Al Harbi and Abdulaziz Mazen Al Bougami.
“I could not believe I was actually there. The photographers were running around us taking pictures and the fans were cheering so loudly I think I felt the stadium shake! I was thinking about all of my family and friends in Saudi Arabia watching me on television and I was so excited to be here!” said Faris AlKhamis.
As an official partner and the official restaurant of the Fifa World Cup 2014, McDonalds has provided over 1,400 children from all corners of the world, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to walk onto the pitches in Brazil with some of the world’s best footballers.
During their four days in Brazil, the children and their parents had the opportunity to learn about the country and its culture, while making friends with player escorts from other nations across the globe.
Mohammed Alireza, director of corporate affairs of Reza Food Services, said: “Experiencing the joy of the World Cup alongside the children who participate in McDonald’s Player Escort Program is truly a rewarding experience.
“As a locally owned and operated business, we are committed to promoting active lifestyles across for local young people. The Player Escort Program is just one of many initiatives we have designed that ignite a lifelong love of sports for people of all ages, and we are pleased to share this once-in-a-lifetime moment for these young football fans and their families.” - TradeArabia News Service
