Dubai, 12 Oct 2023: In a vibrant show of solidarity and support for children’s futures, the International Cricket Council (ICC), in partnership with UNICEF, the Board of Control for Cricket in India, and Sri Lanka Cricket, will celebrate “One Day 4 Children” on November 2nd, 2023, at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The event, interwoven with the sell-out India vs. Sri Lanka fixture, is set to utilize the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup’s far-reaching platform to augment global attention and support towards ensuring every child’s survival and prosperity. This initiative, which will see the Mumbai stadium bathed in blue light during the second innings, emerges as a pinnacle event of the #BeAChampion campaign, with a unifying message of hope, support, and the paramount importance of creating equal opportunities for all children.
The prominent occasion, backed by the powerful presence of players from India and Sri Lanka, as well as cricket legends and UNICEF and ICC Ambassadors Sachin Tendulkar and Muttiah Muralitharan, will afford fans in attendance LED wristbands, synchronized with a stadium-wide blue light show. The message of “One Day 4 Children” will be amplified by the influential voices and reaches of these cricketing stalwarts, further extending the impact and resonance of the initiative. Notably, funds raised during this campaign will be channeled to support UNICEF’s endeavours for children, reinforcing every child’s right to equal opportunities.
The collaborative undertaking is not confined to the physical premises of the stadium. ICC and Global Broadcast Partner Star Sports are committed to ensuring the “One Day 4 Children” experience permeates television screens worldwide. Additionally, various ICC Commercial Partners are extending their support through in-match donations, further bolstering the initiative’s robust foundation and outreach. The endeavour is a crucial component of the larger “ICC Cricket 4 Good” strategy and follows the initiation of “Criiio 4 Good” – a novel online, life skills learning initiative, developed conjointly by the ICC, UNICEF, and BCCI, targeting the promotion of gender equity among girls and boys through eight free learning modules, available at criiio.com/criiio4good.
Further deepening its roots and impact, the ICC, UNICEF, and all 10 teams participating in the Cricket World Cup are hosting clinics in each host city, offering hundreds of children from UNICEF programs the opportunity to engage with cricket alongside their sporting heroes. For fans worldwide, the avenue to contribute towards UNICEF in support of children remains open at help.unicef.org, welcoming donations starting from US$2.
Expressions of enthusiasm and pride have been voiced by ambassadors and officials alike. Sachin Tendulkar, UNICEF Regional Ambassador, spoke of the privilege of serving a cause that transcends the game itself and his eagerness to witness the Wankhede Stadium turn blue in the pursuit of equality for children globally. Muttiah Muralitharan, ICC Ambassador, emphasized his pride in supporting the initiative and his anticipation of the Wankhede Stadium turning blue for a crucial fixture for the Sri Lankan team against the hosts.
Both ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice and Mr. Jay Shah, Honorary Secretary, BCCI expressed gratitude and confidence in the collaborative efforts and highlighted the symbolic and tangible impacts expected from the initiative, respectively. Cynthia McCaffrey, Representative UNICEF India, emphasized the partnership’s potential in promoting the rights and wellbeing of children worldwide, while spotlighting the significant role of cricket in realizing these objectives.