July 31 st Various districts, Najaf Football and football jersey distribution to community teams

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2 EVENTS July 31 st Various districts, Najaf Football and football jersey distribution to community teams August 1 st - FOB Endeavour Najaf Friendship game between the Iraqi Army s 3 rd Battalion v US Army 69th FSC August 2 nd 2008 Najaf Provincial Football Stadium Multi-community tournament - with young community coaches leading their teams. FUNDING PROVIDED BY U.S. Department of State Public Affairs Office U.S. Embassy, Baghdad Sager Family Foundation IN KIND SUPPORT FROM British Airways England Football Association Kick for Nick Foundation Tottenham Hotspur FC

3 INTRODUCTION Iraq is entering a new phase in its history. Social and economic development are now the top priorities, with an urgent need to foster institutions and patterns of behaviour which will deliver stability and growing prosperity. With an exceptionally young population, it is crucial to engage children and young people in activities which they enjoy, but which also foster key life skills such as teamwork, leadership, communications and citizenship. This is where FC Unity s Hope Tour can play an extremely important role. By bringing young people boys and girls together to play football within a structured league system, FC Unity can help instil core positive values which will serve its participants well, both as individual and as citizens of Iraq. Experience from around the world from countries as diverse as Kenya, South Africa, Trinidad and the UK has demonstrated that sport has the power to change young lives for the better. FC Unity has already begun to change lives in one part of Iraq. The challenge now is to turn this into a national movement. Lord Newby Chair, Live Consulting Strategic Adviser FC Unity Hope Tour

4 SUMMARY 1984, a young boy was playing football in Hungary wearing an Iraqi national team shirt. When people asked him what shirt he was wearing, he proudly told them that it is the Shirt of MY country. 2008, a young Iraqi boy in Najaf sporting an Iraqi national team shirt, is handed an England football shirt with a smile from the man who in 1984 had so proudly worn the Iraq shirt as a young boy. My second visit to Iraq in over 28 years (the first visit was after 27 years and 11 months), had a purpose; to launch FC Unity s Hope Tour and provide a platform for education and development through football. Hope is a powerful commodity, one that is installed in the very being of Iraqis. They are forward-looking people with a hunger to create opportunities for self development and to rebuild their shattered communities. Once hope has been awakened their needs to be a practical and sustainable strategy to make the dream a reality. If I was optimistic before my trip, I was won over by the time we wrapped up the 3rd event in as many days, having seen thousands of smiling faces and having experienced the eagerness and determination of young Iraqis to build communities and consequently build a new Iraq. The future of the nation is in the hand of its young people with statistics indicating that 60% of the country s population is under 25 - some estimates putting that figure at under 18. The cultural transformation to democracy has to be aided by all available tools, including grass-roots sport-development and the introduction of citizenship and life-skills. We had four simple aims: 1. To deliver football shirts and footballs to children and young people. 2. To organise a friendship game between the Iraqi and the US military. 3. To host a multi-community football tournament to announce the Hope Tour Iraq programme. 4. To establish the base infrastructure for a sustainable community football programme The reaction was overwhelming, from meeting officials, politicians, diplomats, sport personalities and the public. Everyone wanted to be part of the Hope Tour and everyone emphasised the need for a sustainable long-term programme. And with over 600 community teams in Najaf alone, with 262 playing fields - out of which only 34 are fenced and have a clubhouse structure - there is a great platform on which we can build on. The will and enthusiasm are there in spades from the people, the facilities are ready to be developed - but what is needed is the development of young coaches, managers and referees, good quality footballs, clothing and an organised structure...

5 SUMMARY (continued)...with over 12,000 community teams in Iraq and approximately 300,000 young people taking part in organised football activities, the next steps that we propose to take will be to create a cadre of young coaches, administrators and referees. Then, to set up a premier community league that can provide a bridge between community teams and the professional league. This can provide talented players with opportunities of making it as professionals in both national and international arenas. It will also provide young people employment opportunities as coaches, referees and administrators with the support from our partners on the ground. Most importantly, it will develop in a whole generation of young Iraqis key life skills which will help them fulfil their potential as individuals and citizens. In conclusion, FC Unity calls for all stake-holders to come together to support this programme and provide a strong platform to be utilised for the future of the new Iraq young Iraq! Yamam Nabeel CHIEF EXECUTIVE, FC UNITY MESSAGE FROM THE PRT NAJAF FC Unity's Hope Tour 2008 Iraq came to the Holy Province of Najaf with participation and excitement from both the U.S. Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) and the Najaf Provincial Government, headlined by Team Leader Angus Simmons and Najaf Deputy Governor Abdul Hussein Abtan. Hope Tour brought together members of the U.S. Army, PRT, and Ugandan security force to play their Iraqi brothers and colleagues on the Iraqi Army base that houses U.S. forces in Najaf. Hope Tour also brought jerseys and camaraderie to the youth of Najaf, most importantly at a well-covered event at Najaf's main football stadium with participation of Deputy Governor Abtan and the PRT. Hundreds of Najafi youth have a new understanding of unity through football, as opposed to discord through politics and anger. The PRT is highly encouraged by such events and is honoured to be a small part of Hope Tour Najaf. LTC Roberto Garcia DEPUTY TEAM LEADER NAJAF PROVINCIAL RECONSTRUCTION TEAM

6 DIARY OF EVENTS Thursday 31 st July EVENT 1 - NAJAF Distribution of football shirts and footballs begins, with some unannounced visits to community teams in 5 different districts of Najaf (Al-Mishrak, Al-Hawly, Hay Al-Amir, Hay Al- Mualimin and Hay Al-Zehraa), covering the main communities. Over 10 community teams are visited in person and over 400 football shirts and over 100 footballs are given out from 12pm until 8pm in temperatures of over 47C. Friday 1 st August EVENT 2 - NAJAF The official event list of the Hope Tour begins at FOB Endeavour with a goodwill game between the Iraqi army s 3 rd Battalion (hosts of the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Najaf) and a team of the US Army 69th FSC, the PRT, Team Borlaug, 30 MiTT, and Triple Canopy Ugandan guard force. The Iraqi and US army personnel were presented with England football shirts and the US team played in the green Najaf, I m on the TEAM t-shirts made especially for the event. The game was attended by over 300 people from the Governor s office, PRT staff, Army staff, and Iraqi Army staff, Iraqi, Arab and world media correspondents. The game was competitive, yet light-hearted, played in high spirits, despite temperatures of over 45C. At the end of the game, won by the Iraqis 8-1, both teams celebrated together and agreed to make this game a regular event. FC Unity and the PRT agreed to organise a regular schedule and have t-shirts especially designed for both military personnel.

7 Saturday 2 nd August EVENT 3 NAJAF The headline event of FC Unity s Hope Tour launch in Najaf takes place with over 500 young Iraqis from different parts of Najaf and Kufa. Over 30 community teams, with ages ranging from 8 to 23 take part in this mini-tournament, attended by Deputy Governor Abtan, Najaf Police Chief MG Karim, PRT Team Leader Angus Simmons, Deputy Team Leader LTC Roberto Garcia, Provincial Programme Manager Hakim Kawy, Provincial Programme Officer Evan McCarthy as well as other member of the Najaf PRT. The venue, the main stadium in the province of Najaf is secured by the Iraq and US army teams and Najaf police. As part of the event, over 600 football shirts, t-shirts and over 300 footballs are given out to the participating teams. Al Hurra, Al Furat and Al Fayha all cover the event as well as other Iraqi TV stations and members of the press. Interviews are conducted with FC Unity CEO Yamam Nabeel as well as FC Unity s Honorary Chairman, Nabeel Yasin as well as Deputy Governor Abtan and PRT Team Leader Angus Simmons. The event is a true celebration of unity with joyful chaos and football with all sides eager for the 2 nd part of the Hope Tour. Official dinner hosted by Deputy Governor Abtan at Najaf s Zimzim hotel complex for FC Unity. Thursday 7 th August Meeting with PRT Baghdad Mark Wildermuth and Sharar Al Hadithi to discuss the upcoming Baghdad leg of the Hope Tour. Recommendations are made to add Anbar province to Phase 1 of the Hope Tour. Meeting with Iraqi parliamentary representative and former Iraqi football star Ahmed Radhi to discuss the state of Iraqi football and the necessary steps needed for the construction of the grass-roots structure. Meeting with Public Affairs Office at the Embassy, with Patrick Ventrell, who has been fundamental in helping FC Unity secure funding, to discuss the next steps and expansion of the Hope Tour.

8 Saturday 9 th August Meeting with Sayed Ammar Al Hakim, at the SIIC HQ, acting leader of Iraq Supreme Islamic Council, the leading faction in Iraq s governing United Iraqi Alliance, and Secretary General of Al-Mihrab Martyr Foundation, set up by FC Unity s Chairman, Dr. Nabeel Yason, to discuss support for FC Unity. During the meeting Sayed Ammar welcomed FC Unity s efforts and pledged to support the programme. Sunday 10 th August Meeting with Minister of Youth and Sport, Jasim Muhammad Ja far at the Ministry of Youth and Sport to discuss partnership between FC Unity and the ministry. Minister Ja far welcomed FC Unity s programme and pledged to support it and work together. He emphasised to add citizenship training to the programme. He also discussed the current positive situation of community footballs teams, with over 12,600 all over the country in existence.

9 ACHIEVEMENTS During Phase 1 of Hope Tour in Najaf, FC Unity has distributed 1,000 England football shirts and 400 footballs to children and young people in Najaf, both to school children and community team players between the ages of 4 and 23. A further 300 t-shirts, made for the Hope Tour Tournament in Najaf were distributed at Najaf Stadium. The highly successful Friendship Game at FOB Najaf between the Iraqi and US military led to a weekly football activity between the forces leading to more positive cooperation. Both sides are now eager for FC unity to make these games a regular occurrence and provide specially designed football kit for both teams. PHASE 1 EXPANSION The Hope Tour s Phase 1 was originally planned for Najaf, Baghdad and Kirkuk, but following the successful completion of Phase 1 programme in Najaf, FC Unity has had interest from the following provinces to extend the programme: Anbar, Karbala, Diwaniya and Basra. Initial tournaments will be held in all these locations by end MEDIA The Hope Tour was well covered by the Iraqi media with broad coverage by correspondents from the main television channels as well as newspapers and magazines at Event 1 and 3. Interviews were conducted by Al Hurra, Al Furat, Al Hurriya, Afaq, Al Fayha a, Al Iraqiya and Associated Press, Al Maraya newspaper, Al Mala ab magazine and Time magazine. Extended interviews were conducted with Yamam Nabeel, Dr. Nabeel Yasin, Abdul Hussain Abtan and Angus Simmons. In addition, FC Unity had enlisted the services of a young Iraqi cameraman/photographer to film a fly-on-the-wall style documentary and shoot a photo essay of events. As the media is keen to report positive stories on Iraq and such reports have a significant effect on winning the hearts and minds of people at a grass-roots level, FC Unity would like to introduce media skills training as part of its remit. This programme would assist Iraqi journalists eager to further their professional standing toward the development of a free and open press.

10 NEXT STEPS After consultation with community leaders, football coaches, players, central government ministers and provincial officials the under-mentioned actions were proposed. To strengthen the capacity of the strong culture of community teams, with over 12,600 teams (Ministry of Youth and Sport figures) all over Iraq. This would mean outreaching projects to an estimated ,000 young people in organised football activity. To set up a premier style community league that sits between the existing community leagues and the professional/semi-professional leagues, run by the FA. All coaches, referees and admin would be trained by FC Unity and partners and all teams would be supported by FC Unity. This league would be a feeder league and would have teams in each province with over 300 players in each league, all between the ages of To develop citizenship training - these leagues would have an educational supplement of at least 2 hours per week, where the youngsters would receive basic life-skills training, leadership training and citizenship advice.

11 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS FC UNITY would like to extend their gratitude to the following people and organisations: The Province and the people of Najaf Ambassador David Satterfield Ambassador Ryan Crocker Bobby Sager Sayed Hassan Bahr al Uloom Abdul Hussain Abtan Patrick Ventrell Mehmed Ali Angela Fresne Angus Simmons LTC Roberto Garcia Hakim Kawy Evan McCarthy U.S. Department of State Public Affairs Department Sager Family Foundation Provincial Reconstruction Team Najaf England Football Association Najaf Football Club Kick for Nick Foundation Tottenham Hotspur FC British Airways

12 SENIOR MANAGMENT TEAM Yamam Nabeel - Chief Executive, FC Unity Dr. Nabeel Yasin - Honorary President, FC Unity Lord Dick Newby - Chairman, Live Consulting Jane Power - Managing Director, Live Consulting John Carmichael - Chief Executive, Truce International CONTACT For more information please contact: Lord Dick Newby Chairman Live Consulting dnewby@live-consulting.com T: +44 (0) Jane Power Managing Director Live Consulting jsp@live-consulting.com T: +44 (0) Yamam Nabeel Chief Executive FC Unity y.nabeel@fcunity.com +44 (0) FC UNITY 2008 All Rights Reserved This document is submitted to you in confidence and may not be copied, reproduced or submitted to any third party without our written consent.