INSP at the Homeless World Cup

Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton
meeting Mel Young and some of the players

This year's Homeless World Cup took place in Milan from the 6th to the 13th of September. Ukraine were crowned this year's champions after defeating Portugal 5-4 in an exciting final. INSP staff Lisa Maclean and Maree Aldam spent 4 days at the event and met with representatives from 11 INSP street papers, who were there with their teams. Lisa and Maree also had meetings with 15 other individuals, to offer support for new or emerging street paper projects and promote the street paper concept.



Former SNS intern Danielle Batist was also in Milan as a freelance journalist and she covered the event on behalf of the Street News Service while she was there. You can see her blog here. Lisa and Maree also attended several VIP events with HWC staff, partners and sponsors. Maree also presented the INSP Networking Trophy - won this year by Belgium.

INSP was delighted that the final of this year's Homeless World Cup featured 2 teams managed by street papers. Ukraine (managed by The Way Home, Odessa) defeated Portugal (Managed by CAIS, Lisbon) by 5 goals to 4 in the exciting final.

Narrowly missing the final was Brazil, managed by the street paper OCAS - they came 3rd overall. The event ended with a distinctly Brazilian flavour as samba drummers celebrated the formal handing over from Milan to Rio de Janeiro for the 2010 Homeless World Cup. Check out the lively Brazilian team giving the crowds in Milan's Duomo Square a taste of what's to come at next year's event - click here.

Mel Young, President, Homeless World Cup and Former INSP Honorary President, closing the competition said: "Congratulations to the players. Your spirit of fair play, courage and determination is a true example to the human race".

Click here for INSP's gallery of pictures and click here for more pictures from the Homeless World Cup.