Nike Partners with FC Barcelona and UNHCR To Launch MÉS - More Than Football

BARCELONA, Spain--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nike, FC Barcelona and UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees) today announced a new partnership – MÉS – which aims to bring sport and education to underprivileged youth and refugees around the world.

“We are really proud of this project”

MÉS, which means "more” in Catalan and reflects the FCB slogan “més que un club”, brings together three partners that are not new to each other. Nike has supported FC Barcelona since 1998 and is a proud partner of UNHCR in the ninemillion.org campaign. Foundation FC Barcelona also has an existing collaboration in place with UNHCR, supporting programs in refugee camps in the world.

The net proceeds from the sale of MÉS-branded products will be distributed through the Foundation FC Barcelona and UNHCR to fund projects which contribute to sports and education for some of the most disadvantaged youth and refugees in the world. Such programs use sports to teach youth basic life skills and key values and to bring communities together.

The first MÉS apparel collection comprises high quality products for children, men and women. All products incorporate the MÉS logo as their center-piece. A MÉS product is more than a pin-badge, a T-shirt, a hoody or a hat; it’s a way to help young refugees rebuild their lives through sport.

This exclusive collection reflects Nike’s commitment to the environment and starts with the concept of enhancing environmental sustainability and blending in cool aesthetics. All apparel is soft-to-the-touch and uses 100% organic cotton as the base fabric. Soya based inks are used for all the printed details on all garments.

You can contribute to MÉS by buying MÉS product or you can make an on-line donation through www.mesfootball.org.

“Nike is proud to join long-term partners FCB and UNHCR in a program to bring sport and education to underprivileged youth and refugees around the world through the MÉS campaign” says Hannah Jones, Vice President Corporate Responsibility Nike. “Nike knows that sport can be a powerful vehicle for social change, bringing communities together and contributing to building life skills, and now, through the sale of MES products, consumers can play a role in providing disadvantaged youth and refugees with access to sport.”

"Refugee youth have often suffered terribly and witnessed war first hand. Some refugees are born in camps, others grow up in camps, which can mean a lifetime with little or no access to sport or recreation.” commented António Guterres High Commissioner for UNHCR. “Through your support the MÉS campaign can provide refugee youth with an opportunity to play."

“We are really proud of this project” stated Joan Laporta, President of FC Barcelona. “through MÉS, we intend to further strengthen Barça’s support when it comes to solidarity and sportsmanship. This is the “MÉS” of Barça’s slogan “more than a club”, and we are glad to be partners in this with prestigious partners as Nike and UNCHR.”

Turning attention to the football pitch, the FC Barcelona team will wear a jersey which incorporates the MES logo for their match against Valencia CF on 6th of December. The match ball will also display the MES logo. The logo will continue to be on the FCB jersey for one week, taking in the UEFA Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk on December 9^th and the hugely anticipated match against Real Madrid on 24th of December.

For further information, contact Kai Landwehr on 069 – 689.789.126 or at [e-mail]

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NIKE, Inc. based near Beaverton, Oregon, is the world's leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Wholly owned Nike subsidiaries include Converse Inc., which designs, markets and distributes athletic footwear, apparel and accessories; Cole Haan, which designs, markets and distributes luxury shoes, handbags, accessories and coats; Umbro Ltd., a leading United Kingdom-based global football (soccer) brand; and Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes action sports and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories. For more information, visit nikebiz.com.