Football: Valencia CF announces partnership with UN Women

Valencia's players celebrate their qualification for the Champions League after the Spanish league football match between UD Almeria and Valencia CF at the Juegos Mediterraneos stadium in Almeria on May 23, 2015. The Spanish football club announced o
Valencia's players celebrate their qualification for the Champions League after the Spanish league football match between UD Almeria and Valencia CF at the Juegos Mediterraneos stadium in Almeria on May 23, 2015. The Spanish football club announced on Tuesday that it will partner UN Women to promote and support gender equality across the globe. -- PHOTO: AFP

Spanish football club Valencia Club de Futbol (CF) announced on Tuesday that it will partner UN Women - a United Nations organisation - to promote and support gender equality across the globe.

The partnership, launched at the UN Headquarters in New York, is the first time UN Women is working with a professional sports team.

The team is owned by Singaporean billionaire and former remisier king Peter Lim.

Said Under-Secretary-General and UN Women executive director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka: "UN Women is dedicated to bringing more men and boys into the gender equality conversation. Valencia's players are strong role models who will lead by example and inspire their vast fan base."

Football fans will soon be able to spot the UN Women's logo on the back of the Valencia CF players' jerseys when they play in European Championships such as the Champions League - which the club qualified for over the weekend.

The cause will also be promoted on the team's social media platforms.

As part of the four-year partnership, the team will take part in special matches and soccer clinics in Spain, the Americas and other parts of the world.

Valencia CF's Executive President Amadeo Salvo said such clinics could be conducted for girls who are interested in the sport.

"We are fully supportive of the idea that young girls are not constrained by the artificial gender divide," he said.

Chairwomen of Valencia CF Chan Lay Hoon - the first woman ever to hold this role in the club's 96-year history - added: "This is a long-term commitment to really help make a difference to expand advocacy efforts towards gender equality. It's not only a women's issue, it's a human rights issue that Valencia CF strongly believes in."

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