SEOUL 2024: CELEBRATING OUR 10-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOMELESS WORLD CUP
The Homeless World Cup (HWC) is a global football tournament organized by the Homeless World Cup Foundation, which advocates the end of homelessness through the sport. Every year, dozens of national men’s and women’s teams meet in iconic cities like Oslo, Mexico City, and Sacramento to compete for glory. And wherever they go, we go as well. Act Global and Act Sports, B.I.G.’s US and European sports turf brands, join forces to offer the teams the most natural, consistent, and comfortable player experience out there.
Maximizing our social impact
“From the very start of our sports turf activities, exactly 20 years ago, we’ve made it our mission to put smiles on people’s faces”, says John Baize, founder of Act Global. “Yes, we’re known for providing world-class turf to elite clubs in American football, baseball, soccer, field hockey, tennis, rugby, and other sports, but we bring our innovations from the professional sports arena to local communities as well. Our turf is for everyone. We feel equal satisfaction seeing kids, recreational players, homeless people, and others act on their dreams. To put it boldly, we’ve turned synthetic turf into the most inclusive recreational turf available.”
“Step by step, we’ve turned synthetic turf into the most inclusive recreational turf available.”
Welcome to Amsterdam
It was written in the stars that a company culture marked by social commitment would soon inspire like-minded organizations to get in touch. John Baize: “When the Homeless World Cup Foundation approached us to become a partner for the 2015 tournament in Amsterdam, we didn’t have to think long. Our common passion to offer every sports enthusiast a top-notch surface signed the deal.”
For nearly a decade since, Act Global and its European co-brand Act Sports have provided professional-level sports turf for every Homeless World Cup tournament in places as far afield as Glasgow, Mexico City, and now Seoul.
Here’s to the next decade
The partnership with the Homeless World Cup is also a success internally. “Our people ensure that the turf systems that fly out to the HWC venues are the best we have to offer". “An illustration of such attention to detail is one of our colleagues who travelled to the 2023 tournament in Sacramento, got out a leaf blower in the 40-degree-Celsius Sacramento heat, and started sweeping the pitches. That same staff member also got down on his hands and knees with a knife to manicure the pitches in order to keep them pristine.”
John Baize concurs: “The energy we all get from our 10-year partnership with the Homeless World Cup is something we cherish and wish to prolong. Quite simply, it’s what our brand motto Act in line with your dreams is all about, so we look forward to next year’s edition in Oslo, Norway.”
“It is a privilege to continue our partnership with the Homeless World Cup. Having attended multiple tournaments in the past, I have witnessed the impact to players, fans and communities around the world. The tournament is absolutely amazing.”
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