OUR VISION FOR THE HOMELESS WORLD CUP:

“The Homeless World Cup vision is for a healthy, abundant, confident world where everyone has a home, a basic human need. We use football as a trigger to inspire and energise people who are homeless to change their own lives. By this approach the Homeless World Cup creates better opportunities for people who are currently homeless and excluded and reduces homelessness on a global level.” France wholeheartedly believes in this vision and is proud to host the Homeless World Cup of soccer in 2011.

Download here the presentation for this event (french)

Team France has been attending this international street soccer contest since the 2004 HWC in Göteborg. We’ve watched with interest as the Homeless World Cup has grown by welcoming an ever wider number of participating countries.

After Sweden, Scotland, Denmark, and Italy this year, France and Paris are ready to welcome the 9th Homeless World Cup in 2011.

For more than a year, the Board of Directors of Collectif “Remise en Jeu” or “Back in Play”, in English, has been focussed on the objective of promoting a candidacy that best meets the objectives and goals set by the International Organising Committee of the HWC. Our small team has now been working for many years on this project. Recently, our various public and private partners financed the recruitment of two staff members to help coordinate the now very large group of private and public sector supporters who are working to make this candidacy a success. The candidacy now has a nationwide scope. We have made enormous progress, developed national visibility and would be proud and honoured to take our work to the next step.

REMISE EN JEU “BACK IN PLAY” BACKGROUND:

- In 1993, started a soccer program at the initiative of homeless people who had nothing to do on weekends.

- Since 1999, held an annual solidarity tournament, supported by Secours Catholique / Caritas France for all the Parisian associations that fight social exclusion.

- In 2005, Collectif Remise en Jeu was established, bringing together eight national and local associations aiding those on the margins of society. The association’s goal is: “the individual and collective development of vulnerable people, through sports activities geared toward social integration.”

- Since 2005, championship soccer matches have been played each year between September and June. The HWC players are chosen during the sports season, which includes ten competitive matches.

- Since 2006, other efforts have been organized by Collectif Remise en Jeu, including a friendly match with politicians for the Journée Mondiale du Refus de la Misère and retreats with the other teams of the Championship.

Today, Collectif Remise en Jeu is the French representative for the Homeless World Cup.

THE REASONS FOR OUR CANDIDACY:

Engagement of the Homeless

The HWC Paris 2011 candidacy includes the support and expertise of the homeless themselves. Whether former players who participated in previous HWC’s or players who never had a chance to participate until now, the homeless have been involved in preparing this application package. A working group has been established to ensure that the HWC 2011 in France is an event where the homeless will feel right at home. They will be giving their advice on all aspects of the application and will actively participate in arrangements for the World Cup.

Re-Insertion of the Homeless

This competition will bring together companies and others that want to work with Collectif Remise en Jeu, to ensure that street people are direct beneficiaries of the tournament. As you will see in this application package, the companies we have selected to work on organising the event want to join in promoting the vocational placement of the vulnerable among us. Once we are chosen, a primary objective will be to involve as many street people as possible to in the organization and execution of the event. Our sponsoring and participating companies will be the primary vehicle for producing this outcome.

Durable Impact on Homeless Visibility and Re-Insertion

The candidacy of Collectif Remise en Jeu is national in that 25 of France’s main cities will be involved in organising the event. The regional diffusion of this sports project will engage volunteers and homeless from all of France. This will assist in making homeless soccer championships across the country a permanent part of the French landscape. It will durably change the image of homeless and raise its profile.

Global Impact and Profile

It is with pride, but not hubris, that we believe that having the HWC in the City of Light can illuminate the humanity of the homeless as no other venue could. The success of the HWC and its “business model” has already attracted wide and positive media coverage. The Melbourne HWC has taken this coverage and its positive impact on the homeless to an even higher plane. We and our supporters would be honoured if Paris were to have the opportunity to assist in building on this good work.

We now invite you to examine our application to organise the 2011 Homeless World Cup in France.