2007 Futbol Internacional Soccer Festival Comes to Six Alabama Cities - April 22-28

(Birmingham, AL) - Alabama will host one of the largest women's soccer events outside of the Olympics and World Cup games as Futbol Internacional 2007 kicks off April 22-28 in six cities to benefit the Alabama Youth Soccer Association.

The event features national women's teams from Argentina, Canada, China, Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago and the USA's Under-21 national team. Futbol Internacional starts in Birmingham's historic Legion Field, home of the 1996 Olympic Soccer matches, with opening ceremonies and double-header games. It will end with triple-header finals in Mobile's Baker High School stadium.

AYSA is especially excited that China's women's team is part of the festival, since China will host the FIFA Women's World Cup 2007 soccer tournament Sept. 10-30, and the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

"Every soccer fan in the state and surrounding states will be able to see one of the largest international soccer events in the world," says event organizer Scott Spencer. "With the success and excitement that international matches have brought to Alabama, AYSA wanted to bring global event that touches communities all over the state." The games will take the women's teams to venues across the state from Birmingham, with stops in Huntsville, Tuscaloosa, Decatur, Montgomery and finally Mobile.

"Not only will this bring international soccer to our doorstep, but this event will use its proceeds to build healthy outreach soccer programs to underserved children in the Black Belt in conjunction with Governor Bob Riley's Black Belt Action Committee and inner-city soccer programs," Spencer says.

Though the festival is about empowering youth in soccer and raising awareness of 'futbol' - as it is called around the world - it is also expected to raise Alabama's image in the wide world of soccer, says Nichelle Gainey, President and CEO of SilverStone International, a sports marketing and consulting firm.

She is lending her company's support to raise awareness of the soccer event with the help of Alabama's governmental and corporate communities. She is also using the international connections she's made through her involvement with the 2006 World Cup and members of the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) to bring in dignitaries from the teams' home countries.

"I am very passionate about women sports, and after returning from Mexico watching the men's national team, I found this event to be a great opportunity to showcase the love of this sport that is seen worldwide," Gainey says. "So I am excited to lend my name and influence to bring in other sports organizations to help make Futbol Internacional one of the premiere sporting events that Alabama has ever experienced."

Supporters of the 2006 youth soccer fund-raising event included Governor Riley, U.S. Senator Richard Shelby, and U.S. Rep. Artur Davis.

"Alabama is fast becoming the destination of choice for foreign corporations looking for a talented workforce and a hospitable place to do business," Gov. Riley says.Futbol Internacional is expected to generate a statewide economic impact of about $2.4 million as people from the participating nationalities and youth soccer players attend the week-long event. As an event of the Alabama Youth Soccer Association,all 20,000 AYSA registered players will receive one free ticket to either the opening matches or the finals. The first 5,000 registered youth players from other states will also be eligible for free tickets. In addition, the festival will include six free youth clinics, a coaching symposium featuring International coaches, and a banquet honoring the teams, sponsors, and special guests.
General admission tickets for $16 per person will be available online after March 10, 2007 on the Alabama Youth Sports Association website atwww.alabamayouthsoccer.org. Children under age 4 are admitted for free.

Proceeds from Futbol Internacional will aid the development of a youth soccer complex in Mobile County and support a youth soccer scholarship fund, among other projects.

Sponsorships are still available. For sponsorship information, please send your request via e-mail to info@silverstoneintl.com. A complete list of event sponsors is available on AYSA's website, www.alabamayouthsoccer.org.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Rebel Negley,
Image Strategies, Inc.
rebel@image-strategies.com
(205) 612-3301

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