Mozambique backing for Bristol
Support for Bristol's 2018 football and HIV/Aids project in Beira
The High Commissioner of the Republic of Mozambique, Senior Antonio Gumende met with Bristol's Lord Mayor and the city's 2018 World Cup bid Director, Stephen Wray, to lend his support to Bristol's 2018 football and HIV/Aids project in the twin city of Beira.
Bristol's 2018 football and HIV/Aids project aims to raise awareness and tackle the threats of HIV/ Aids in the region through football coaching.
The Bristol Link with Beira has strong football and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) contacts on the ground in Mozambique relating to children's football, girls’ football and street football.
Whilst providing equipment and encouraging women to take up coaching in the sport, the project also works closely with local disability groups including long term support for wheelchair workshops, children with learning disabilities, blind women's economic development projects and HIV/Aids orphans education.
Snr Antonio Gumende said: "I am proud of the strong bond between Bristol and Beira. I am also excited to learn that the Bristol bid involves football development and HIV/AIDS raising awareness in Beira hence I wish this city every success in its bidding process for the future.
"After Mozambique's participation in the African Cup of Nations earlier this year and with the FIFA World Cup taking place in South Africa this summer, I know firsthand the power football has in joining peoples together. If England is successful in their bid to host the FIFA World Cup, then Bristol would be the ideal setting for such a marvellous tournament."
Stephen Wray said: "Bristol's relationship with Beira and the ongoing work of international projects such as this shows the city's commitment to working with our neighbours. Using football as a way to help educate those to issues such as HIV/ aids is a useful tool for future sustainability and development and also illustrates firsthand how Bristol and England’s 2018 World Cup bids carry deep rooted notions of legacy."
The High Commissioner of Mozambique was attending the 2010 Local Authority Action for Southern Africa (LAACTSA) Biennial Conference being hosted in Bristol as part of celebrations marking the city's 20-year twinning links with Mozambique second city of Beira.
The themes of the conference this year are to work collaboratively with colleagues in Southern Africa and Great Britain to promote local government, local democracy and local partnerships.