Not into sport?  What about culture, equality, spirituality, humanity?  What about being part of something inspirational, awesome, deeply human and drivingly purposeful?  The International Homeless World Cup 2008 is on this year in Melbourne.  Uniting teams of players from nations all around the world, 500 usually homeless, excluded athletes will converge on Melbourne for 400 fast-paced street football matches on custom-built pitches in Federation Square and Birrarung Marr.  In this once in a lifetime opportunity men and women from nations around the world will represent their country and potentially change their lives forever and over 70% of players engaging in these annual Homeless World Cup events do just that, overcoming substance abuse and dependency, entering employment, education, training and getting off the streets and into accomodation.  Just take a look .   So forget the Olympics, forget the Commonwealth Games, this is the event of the year.

Alongside the games is a rich cultural festival and most of the events are FREE.

It starts with the Opening Parade on Monday 1st of December from 12.15-1pm which will run down Collins Street, turn into Swanston Street and finish at Federation Square, where the opening ceremony will take place.

56 teams from across the globe will march in the colorful parade along accompanied by  The Police Pipe Band, drummers, dancers and other performers who will follow the teams.

Then the Opening Ceremony in Federation Square is from 1pm- 2 pm will feature live music from hip hop, roots and vintage soul group Flow and Plenty, plus music and dance from over 130 school children.   As a symbol peace, 56 trees will be passed out, each representing one of the 56 national teams.  

There’ll be acoustic musicians, roving circus performers and a percussionist will perform at the Riverwalk, Federation Square and Birrarung Marr.

Something of an activist?  Want to understand homelessness and positive steps in changing homelessness and poverty?  Why not engage in Melbourne Conversations, where there’ll be three free public discussions at BMW Edge in Federation Square.

• School conversations – An interactive and stimulating discussion for young people about street soccer, crime, homelessness, poverty and achievement.
• Social Entrepreneur -  How do change-makers, community and business leaders make a difference to homelessness and poverty and deal with the many challenges including the impact of the global financial crisis?
• Women Kicking Goals – Committed women from Australian and overseas share their stories, experiences, visions and skills related to the concerns of poverty and social disadvantage.

Got an artistic bent?  Just appreciate arts?  At 6pm an exhibition called Homeless, Not Artless, will be showcased in a performance  at ACMI, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image at Federation Square.  The performance will include readings, spoken word, music and multi-media displays. Contact ACMI here to reserve a ticket.

On Friday 5th and Saturday 6th December there will be two movies at 8pm on the superscreen at Federation Square.  ‘Kicking it‘ and ‘La Otra Copa‘, both documentaries that highlight the stories of participants of previous Homeless World Cup tournaments. Watch the trailers here.

ACMI Cinemas at Federation Square will be screen two soccer movies, ‘In the Hands of the Gods‘ and ‘Football under Cover‘, on Sunday 7th at 5.30pm and 7.30pm. Find out more here.

Want to see a group of people jumping over railings, flying off walls and diving over benches.  On Saturday 6th December at 12pm, 4pm and 6pm and Sunday 7th Dec at 12pm and 1.30pm performances of ‘parcour‘ by  Trace Elements, will be on at the Riverwalk in Birrarung Marr.

Want to get interactive?  In the Tricked Out, Trick Star Marquee you can take part in a beginners workshop, get football tips or between 11am-4pm just watch talented footballers juggle a football with as many different parts of their body in as many different positions, as humanly possible set to a musical backdrop. 

Get down to Federation Square 1-7 December 2008. More info .

Donna Williams *)
http://www.donnawilliams.net

source:  http://www.homelessworldcup.org/content/melbourne-2008