Neymar has just been named Goodwill Ambassador for the non-governmental organization Handicap International. The Brazilian player explained his appointment at the Palais des Nations Unies in Geneva, in the company of the UN Director General.
Author: Coralie Delambert
Neymar Jr.'s visit to Geneva in the middle of August went virtually unnoticed.
unnoticed. The young Brazilian player, recently transferred to Paris Saint Germain, brought his family for a few hours to the humanitarian capital of the world.
His Geneva stopover began at the Place des Nations, where the soccer star was hoisted more than seven meters off the ground onto Swiss artist Daniel Berset's monumental wooden sculpture, symbolizing the fight against landmines. Sitting on the seat of the giant chair, the 25-year-old footballer shot a few balloons between the rows of flags in the park of the Palais des Nations and on the square, despite being slightly prone to vertigo. This delighted those surprised to see the idol of the moment
idol of the moment in Switzerland.
The football star then made his way to the Palais des Nations where, after a quick
a quick tour of some legendary rooms, Neymar Jr. met representatives of the
of the international press.
At the start of the press conference, Michael Moller, Director General of the United Nations Office, said he was delighted that the world soccer star would be at the Palais des Nations in Geneva for the first time. He also expressed his pride that the UN had been able to "help build a strong relationship between Handicap International and Neymar Jr. to bring this partnership to fruition".
Founded in 1982, Handicap International was co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997. Manuel Patrouillard, Executive Director of the federation, which operates in some 60 countries, announced with a smile that this was the first time the organization had appointed a Goodwill Ambassador. He acknowledged that it was "the meeting of two worlds, very different, but which share the same concern: supporting vulnerable people in the world.
vulnerable people in the world.
Neymar said he was "extremely happy to be Handicap International's Ambassador" and that he was "living a unique moment in his life and professional career". He enjoyed "this different feeling, of exceptional happiness", hoping that this partnership would help many people.
The Brazilian said he discovered the NGO's work in early 2016. Originally, he was concerned about child amputees and the need to fit them with prostheses. Today, Neymar wants to put his image and fame at the service of children just to have the happiness...of seeing them happy.