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

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


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR Log (Press Release) – May 25, 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 nine local restaurants and sports bars, as well as a soccer tournament on June 12 between 20 international organizations based in Atlanta. Donations from all 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 12
Atlanta Silverbacks Park
3200 Northcrest Road
Atlanta, GA 30340
9:00 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
(404) 969-4900
For directions, visit www.atlantasilverbacks.com/park.
$5.00 donation to SOS Children’s Villages, kids 12 and under, free.

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
• Brazil - represented by Viver Magazine and the Brazilian American Chamber of Commerce
• Canada - represented by Consulate General of Canada in Atlanta
• CBS Radio - represented by V-103/davefm/WAOK
• Chile - represented by Chilean American Chamber of Commerce
• Ecuador - represented by Ecuadorian Association of Georgia
• Ethiopia - represented by Desda Restaurant and Ethiopian Community Organizations
• France - represented by Enterprise Rhone-Alps International
• Georgia (Country of) - represented by Honorary Consulate of Georgia
• Germany - represented by the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern
U.S., combined team with the Consulate of Germany in Atlanta
• Israel - represented by the Consulate General of Israel in Atlanta
• Kenya - represented by the Georgia Africa Chamber of Commerce
• Mexico - represented by Mexican American Chamber of Commerce
• Netherlands - represented by Holland America 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
• SOS Children’s Villages - represented by the Atlanta Volunteer Committee of SOS
Children's Villages/USA
• South Africa - represented by South African-American Chamber of Commerce
• Switzerland - represented by Swiss American Chamber of Commerce
• U.S.A. - represented by Georgia Soccer

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 davefm appearances, food vendors and more. The 10:00 a.m. 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ game with Nigeria vs. Argentina and the 2:00 p.m. U.S. vs. England game will be shown on a large-screen TV.

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-f .... Please call the restaurants for hours of operation.

Fado Irish Pub
273 Buckhead Avenue, NE
Atlanta, GA 30305
(404) 841-0066
www.fadoirishpub.com

Fox Sports Grill (Atlantic Station)
261 19th Street Northwest
Atlanta, GA 30363-1134
(404) 207-1369
www.foxsportsgrill.com

J.R. Crickets
4479 South Cobb Drive
Smyrna, GA 30080
(678) 305-0224
www.jrcrickets-smyrna.com

Luckie Food Lounge
375 Luckie Street, NW
Atlanta, GA 30313
(404) 525-5825
www.luckiefoodlounge.com

Mellow Mushroom
6100 Roswell Road, NE
Sandy Springs
(404) 252-5560
www.mellowmushroom.com

Milltown Arms Tavern
180 Carroll Street
Atlanta, GA 30312
(404) 827-0343
www.milltownarmstavern.net

Ormsby’s
1170 Howell Mill Road
Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 968-2033
www.ormsbysatlanta.com

Queens Lounge
6889 Peachtree Industrial Blvd.
Norcross, GA 30071
(770) 447-2400

Stats
300 Marietta Street, NW
Atlanta, GA 30313-1632
(404) 885-1472
www.statsatl.com

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

Sponsors and Organizers
The Atlanta International Soccer Fest is supported by Georgia Soccer, CBS Radio, Realm
Advertising, AmeriPress, the World Trade Center Atlanta, the Georgia Council for International Visitors, the Goethe Center (German Cultural Center) and Alliance Francaise (French Cultural Center). V-103, davefm and WAOK have signed on as radio media partners. 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 contact irene@sos-atlanta.org.

The South African-American Chamber of Commerce in Atlanta (SAACOC) and the German
American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern U.S. (GACC South) are behind the initiative to celebrate the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ by launching the 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. 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 US. 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. For more info on GACC South visit: www.gaccsouth.com.