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Tsunami: Schumi donates $10m
05/01/2005 09:06 - (SA)
Paris - Seven-time world Formula One champion Michael Schumacher led the
pack of sporting donors to victims of last week's Asian tsunamis, gifting a
massive $10m.
"The dawning of the New Year has not been as joyful for us this year because
of the catastrophe in Asia," Schumacher said.
"We sympathise with the victims in their grief," said Schumacher, whose own
government was set to become the biggest donor to the Indian Ocean nations
devastated by tsunamis by pledging ?500m in aid.
Fellow German, tennis star Nicolas Kiefer came up with a novel way of
fund-raising, saying he would donate $100 per ace he served in three
Australian tournaments.
"For every ace, starting now in Adelaide, then in Sydney, and finally in
Melbourne, I will donate $100.
"Against Sjeng Schalken, I served five aces, or $500," for the victims of
the tsunamis, Kiefer said on his website, www.nicolas-kiefer.de
"I'd love to improve on that figure against my next opponent, Frenchman
Cyril Saulnier - and of course progress in the tournament," he said.
The German football federation and league announced a donation of ?1.5m,
while Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich will stump up at least ?300 000 for a
school or orphanage project in Sri Lanka.
"The number of victims, the images of devastation and the suffering of the
people have deeply moved us," said Bayern president Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
"We want to try to extend a hand to children and people who have suffered
and whose future appears so uncertain."
In addition, a Germany XI will play a friendly match on January 25 against a
Bundesliga select side, with proceeds also going to victims of the
catastrophe.
Spanish and French Basque footballing rivals Real Sociedad and Bayonne
meanwhile will also play a friendly, with proceeds going to the Red Cross.
The French football federation also donated ?1m in what is seen as a
kick-start to efforts to mobilise a donation drive across all sports.
Football's world ruling body Fifa also pledged $2m, but specified that it
was destined to help rebuild the footballing infrastructure in Asian
countries hit by last week's tsunamis.
Fifa said that the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) had also pledged $1m,
meaning a "solidarity fund" of $3m.
"Fifa and the AFC decided to concentrate on reconstructing the footballing
infrastructure in the affected areas," it said.
The football associations that will qualify for the aid are those in
Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Maldives, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and
Thailand.
The funds will be used to "donate football equipment to these associations
or their members."
a.. Edited by Schalk Jonker
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