As an official Ambassador, Tim Cahill joins Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy
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Ausi football legend Tim Cahill has been unveiled as an official ambassador for the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), at a special event in Qatar. Cahill, 40, becomes the latest renowned name to join the SC family – and accompanies Xavi, Samuel Eto’o, Cafu plus a number of other local and regional football legends on the ambassador programme.
The programme seeks to work with some of the game’s most high-profile names to promote and deliver the SC’s numerous legacy projects, and help use the opportunities provided by Qatar 2022 to create a lasting positive social change across the region and around the globe.
Cahill, a regular visitor to Qatar over the past 12 years, has developed a close affinity with the country and will work to promote various activities and legacy programmes, including Generation Amazing, Josoor Institute and Workers’ Welfare, among others. He will also work with Qatar’s local communities to ensure the legacy of the FIFA World Cup 2022 is both long-lasting and far-reaching.
Speaking at his announcement ceremony, which took place at a Generation Amazing activation with local school children, Cahill spoke of his delight at joining the ambassador programme.
Cahill, an AFC Asian Cup winner in 2015, holds numerous accolades at international level. As well as being one of an elite group of players to have featured at four separate FIFA World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018) he was also the first Australian man to score at the finals, and with 50 goals in 108 appearances, he is his country’s record goal scorer.
After a glittering 21-year playing career, which included stints in England, USA, China PR, Australia and India, he hung up his boots in March 2019. Although that means he will be unable to take to the field at Qatar 2022, he’s thrilled to be part of the tournament in a different capacity and looking forward to playing a role in telling Qatar’s story to the world.
“It’s the biggest tournament ever to come to the Middle East,” he explained. “To hold this tournament and to share it with the world – and to be in a place where it’s never been done before – that’s what football does. Football is giving back to this region, but at the same time sharing its culture, values and lifestyle.”
A key part of Cahill’s role with the SC will be to work closely with Generation Amazing – the SC’s flagship CSR programme. It seeks to deliver positive social change through innovative football for development coaching sessions – locally, regionally and internationally.
The far-reaching positive social, economic and cultural impact – across all ages and echelons of society – that football can have is a subject close to Cahill’s heart. Throughout his playing career and into retirement, he has continuously sought to broaden his horizons away from the pitch.
He is a passionate advocate and supporter of the grassroots game. Through a number of initiatives, including the ‘Tim Cahill Coaching Clinics’, the ‘Tim Cahill All-Star Academy’ and his ‘Schools Program’ he has already reached over 10,000 children by providing free football training, as well as skills and coordination training that can be applied to other sports and everyday life.
He is also a successful author, with his ‘Tiny Timmy’ children’s book series now in its tenth iteration. While philanthropy away from the pitch has also, and continues to be, a major part of his life. He is an ambassador for UNICEF and for Heartbeat of Football – a charity that raises awareness of heart health among footballers and raises funds to provide defibrillators for grassroots football venues.
In addition to that, he is also an ambassador for John Moriarty Football – a foundation that funds football programmes for indigenous Australians in remote communities. Given his already sizeable interest in using the power of football to give back, the SC’s portfolio of legacy programmes associated with Qatar 2022 is an area of work he cannot wait to get involved with.
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