ART FOOTBALL

“Art-football” Festival is opened 03.06.2017 20:52

The solemn opening ceremony of the 7th Football and Music Festival “Art-Football” was held on June 3, 2017.

A real show started before the guests who gathered on this day in the stands of the Small Sports Arena “Lokomotiv” in Cherkizovo. First, to the sounds of the orchestra, beautiful girls from the support group emerged onto the football field and cheered the spectators and the participants of the competition with their incendiary dances.

Then the traditional parade of teams participating in the football tournament began. This year, teams from Argentina, Great Britain, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, South Korea, the Netherlands, Paraguay, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Turkey, Estonia and Russia competed for the title of champions in Moscow.

Match-opening of the football championship was a duel between the national teams of Russia and Estonia.

Officials of the event shared their welcoming speeches with their emotions and wishes with participants and guests of the festival.

Arkady Dvorkovich, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation: “This year Russia hosts the Confederations Cup, in the next year — the World Cup. We want to show by our event that both domestic and world football are not only those who play at the professional level, but also amateurs: artists, sportsmen, veterans, businessmen, politicians. We always welcome guests, so everyone can be sure that he will be welcomed in Moscow and in Russia. Welcome to “Art-football!”.

Alexander Polinsky, Director General of the Sports and Entertainment Directorate of the Department of Physical Culture and Sports of Moscow: “On behalf of the Department, I am pleased to welcome the participants and guests of the seventh “Art-Football” Festival and I would like to wish the participating players to demonstrate the level of the game comparable to that, which, I'm sure, we will see at the Confederations Cup in Russia. Good luck, and let the strongest win!”.

Natalia Davydova, chairman of the board of the charity fundation “Under the flag of kindness”: “Today, as always, the “Art-football” festival takes place within the charity campaign “Under the flag of kindness”. Artists will compete on the football field for the title of world champions, and athletes will compete on stage in vocal skill, but apart from football and concerts there is another very important component of our festival. This is helping for children who need expensive types of treatment. All the proceeds from the festival will be directed to help these children...”.

Aki Avni, captain of the World Team: “Hundreds of artists of teams from around the world prepare each year and wait for the moment when the “Art-football” starts here in Moscow. We also play because we love football, and because we want to share our art with you. This year we also invite you to a series of film screenings presented by the festival participants, to a concert of classical music, and, of course, to concerts taking place on the territory of the “Lokomotiv” stadium. We have something to surprise you!”.

The president of the football club "Starko" Yuri Davydov, who was greeted by the fans with yelling “Yury-Yuri!”, in his speech even more rooted in the stands, having scrawled along with them “Moscow! Art-Football!”. After that he officially announced the Football and Music Festival “Art-football” open!

Welcome to the holiday of sports and art!