 Best known as secret agent 007 and now a UNICEF goodwill ambassador, Roger Moore arrived in Korea on May 27 to attend the World Cup eve festival. At the age of 75, Moore seemed energetic and enthusiastic as his on-screen character when he presented the "Ball of Peace" at the event held on Thursday at the World Cup Park, Sangam-dong.
Moore, who started his UNICEF work in 1991 when he was persuaded by the late Audrey Hepburn, said that he would like to enhance concern for children through the World Cup as "FIFA has more member countries than the United Nations." Partnering with FIFA, UNICEF has been promoting to make the World Cup as grounds to campaign for children around the world, under the slogan of "Say Yes For Children."
A goodwill ambassador for both the city of Seoul as well as UNICEF urged the world to think about the unfortunate children around the globe, saying many children suffer and die while we celebrate and enjoy the soccer games. Prior to attending the opening ceremony, the British actor took a boat ride on the city's Han River on Thursday with children from 50 different nations.
"The global soccer event is something that we have been talking about ever since Mayor Koh last year made me an honorary citizen of Seoul and also his personal envoy, and in all the interviews. This is what's going to happen and I'd say it's going to be the World Cup which will not let us forget it is dedicated to a humanitarian cause for the first time ever which is very important," he said
Hundreds of millions of fans around the world will be able to see current and former World Cup stars appearing in a series of TV campaigns during and after the games stressing that the world's greatest passion must be played on behalf of its greatest resource... children.
When asked which country he is supporting, Moore made clear that he is English, adding that he and his Swedish wife Christina would collide at England's first game with Sweden. The couple leave for Japan on June 1.
(Park Min-seon, sunrise@chosun.com )
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