Atlanta Soccer News: Art, Music and Culture: Atlanta Celebrates Soccer June 11- July 12 with viewing parties, Tournament and Special Events

Contact: Diane Jackson, Tribute Media Consulting
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Email: tributemedia@att.net

Atlanta Celebrates Soccer June 11- July 12 with viewing parties, Tournament and Special Events

Bi-national Chambers of Commerce organizing Atlanta International Soccer Fest
to Benefit SOS Children’s Villages

May 18, 2010 – A metro-area celebration, Atlanta International Soccer Fest 2010 www.atlsoccerfest.com, is underway to coincide with the soccer matches of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, June 11- July 11. Included in the events are game viewing parties at more than eight local restaurants and sports bars, as well as a soccer tournament on July 12 between 20 international organizations based in Atlanta. Donations from several of the events will be awarded to SOS Children’s Villages, with some of the monies going to SOS’ Haiti relief efforts.

A major supporter of the Atlanta International Soccer Fest 2010 has been the Atlanta Bid Committee, whose aim is to bring the FIFA World Cup™ to Atlanta and the USA in 2018/2022. Atlanta has been selected as one of 18 cities to be included in the U.S. Bid. With just a few days to go until the U.S. submits its final proposal to FIFA, Georgians are encouraged to support their state in this endeavor. For more information about the Atlanta Bid Committee and to sign the petition in support of bringing the FIFA World Cup™ to Atlanta in 2018/2022, please visit http://www.gousabid.com/city/local/atlanta-ga.

Atlanta International Soccer Fest Tournament
In an unprecedented show of “soccer solidarity” and friendly rivalry, many bi-national Chambers of Commerce, Consulates, the World Trade Center Atlanta, and community organizations have organized a round robin adult (age 20 and up) soccer tournament.
Saturday June 12th
Atlanta Silverbacks Park
3200 Northcrest Road - Atlanta, GA 30340
9:00 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
404-969-4900 www.atlantasilverbacks.com/park for directions
$5.00 donation to SOS Children’s Villages, kids 12 and under, free.

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Twenty teams representing countries from Argentina to Canada, Switzerland to South Africa, the U.S. and more will be competing throughout the day. Silverbacks Park will offer food and beverages for purchase. At 2:00 p.m. the tournament will take a break for viewing the U.S. vs. England game of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ on large-screen TVs. Come root for your favorite countries and support SOS Children’s Villages.

Teams currently signed include:
• Argentina - represented by Argentine-American Chamber of Commerce
• Canada - represented by Consulate General of Canada in Atlanta
• Chile - represented by Chilean American Chamber of Commerce
• Ecuador - represented by Ecuadorian Association of Georgia
• France - represented by Enterprise Rhone-Alps International
• Ethiopia - represented by Ethiopian Community Organization
• France - represented by the French Consulate
• Rhone-Alps region - represented by Enterprise Rhone-Alps International
• (Country of) Georgia - represented by Honorary Consulate of Georgia
• Germany - represented by German American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern U.S., combined team with the Consulate of Germany in Atlanta
• Kenya - represented by the Georgia Africa Chamber of Commerce
• Mexico - represented by Mexican American Chamber of Commerce
• Netherlands - represented by Holland American Chamber of Commerce; combined team with the Consulate of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Atlanta
• Nigeria - represented by Nigerian Community Organization EGBA; combined team with the Nigerian International Chamber of Commerce and the Nigerian Consulate in Atlanta
• Switzerland - represented by Swiss American Chamber of Commerce
• South Africa - represented by South African-American Chamber of Commerce
• SOS Children's Villages - represented by the Atlanta Committee of SOS Children's Villages USA
• CBS Radio/ V103/Dave FM/ WAOK

Atlanta International Soccer Fest Family Event
Saturday, June 12, 2010
10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Cabbagetown Park
701 Kirkwood Ave SE
Atlanta, Georgia 30316

To celebrate the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ and to celebrate soccer in Atlanta, a family festival will be held at Cabbagetown Park. Soccer skills competition for youth, bounce house, vendors, music, V-103 and Dave FM appearances, food vendors and more. The 10:00 am 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ game with Nigeria vs. Argentina and the U.S. vs. England game will be shown on a large-screen TV.




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Soccer viewing events
June 11 to July 11, 2010
Various Atlanta restaurants and pubs
Restaurants and pubs across the city will be hosting game viewing parties. Venues will offer “Soccer Fest” specials with drinks, appetizers and/or entrees. Root for your favorite country’s team and make a donation to SOS Children’s Villages. For the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ viewing schedule, go to http://www.espnmediazone3.com/us/2010/01/espn-inc-2010-fifa-world-cup-schedule/. Please call the restaurants for hours of operation.

Fado Irish Pub Fox Sports Grill (Atlantic Station)
273 Buckhead Avenue, NE 261 19th Street Northwest
Atlanta, GA 30305 Atlanta, GA 30363-1134
(404) 841-0066 (404) 207-1369
www.fadoirishpub.com www.foxsportsgrill.com

Luckie Food Lounge Milltown Arms Tavern
375 Luckie Street, NW 180 Carroll Street
Atlanta, GA 30313 Atlanta, GA 30312
(404) 525-5825 (404) 827-0343
www.luckiefoodlounge.com www.milltownarmstavern.net

Stats Queens Lounge
300 Marietta Street, NW 6889 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard
Atlanta, GA 30313-1632 Norcross, GA 30071
(404) 885-1472 (770) 447-2400
www.statsatl.com

Ormsby’s Mellow Mushroom
1170 Howell Mill Road 6100 Roswell Road, NE
Atlanta, GA 30318 404-252-5560
(404) 968-2033 www.mellowmushroom.com
http://www.ormsbysatlanta.com/

Additional participating Atlanta restaurants to be announced on www.atlsoccerfest.com.

Sponsors and Organizers
Atlanta International Soccer Fest is sponsored by Realm Advertising (www.realmadvertising.com); partner organizations include the World Trade Center Atlanta and the Goethe Center (German Cultural Center). V103, Dave FM, WAOK and CBS Radio have signed on as radio media partners. Georgia Soccer (www.gasoccer.com) is supporting this “soccer with a purpose” campaign. Additional sponsors, who will receive a generous recognition package based on mutual interests, are solicited and will be announced. For additional information on corporate sponsorships, go to www.atlsoccerfest.com.

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The South African-American Chamber of Commerce in Atlanta (SAACOC) and the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern U.S. (GACC South) were behind the initiative
to celebrate the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ by launching Atlanta International Soccer Fest.

According to Derrick Jackson, executive director of the South African-American Chamber
of Commerce in Atlanta, “As South Africa prepares to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ this summer, and Atlanta vies for the games in 2018 or 2022, we are tapping into
metro Atlanta's growing enthusiasm for the sport. It’s a perfect way to support SOS Children’s Villages, with its longstanding connection to soccer.”

According to Irene Bailey, president of the Atlanta Volunteer Committee for SOS Children’s Villages, “Soccer and SOS Children’s Villages have had a long-standing relationship. Soccer plays a positive role in children’s lives by contributing to their physical and social development. The Atlanta International Soccer Fest is a great way to bring together the international Atlanta community around a worthy cause.”

More than 88,000 Georgia children and adults play some kind of organized soccer, according
to www.atlantasoccernews.com.

About the Organizations
SOS Children's Villages is an independent, non-governmental social development organization (501c3) which has been working to meet the needs and protect the interests and rights of children since its foundation in 1949 in Austria. Operating in 132 countries, SOS Children's Villages provides long-term family-based care for more than 85,000 children who have been orphaned, abandoned or whose families are unable to care for them. To help prevent child abandonment, and to aid families struggling within a cycle of poverty and disease, SOS Children's Villages supports another 600,000 children and their families through family strengthening programs and educational, medical and social outreach initiatives. For more information about SOS Children’s Villages, visit www.sos-usa.org.

Founded in 2009 the South African-American Chamber of Commerce in Atlanta seeks to promote the exchange of business, trade, investment, technology, and culture between South Africa and the United States. We will provide information, services, and programs that facilitate business growth, profitability, and success for members, and support members in developing business opportunities and strategic partnerships in South Africa and the United States. For more information visit www.sa-usabuschamber.com.

The German American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern United States was founded in 1978 to promote and support bilateral trade between Germany and the US. They are a private,
non-profit organization and serve as the official representative of German trade in the southern U.S. GACC South has been a supporter of SOS Children’s Villages in the past, and donated proceeds from their 2009 Annual Gala to the organization. GACC South and SAACOC are the main organizers of the Atlanta International Soccer Fest 2010. For more info on GACC South visit: www.gaccsouth.com.

2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ is a trademark and copyright material of FIFA (the “FIFA marks”).