The complete interview with Roby: HERE

For more photos, click here

Heres photos of the Roma's Peace Award that Robert will hand it over to Aung San Suu Kyi personally. Among others Giorgio Napolitano, President of the Italian Republic, Walter Veltroni, Mayor of Roma, and Sein Win, Chairman of National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma.

Aung San Suu Kyi born 19 June 1945 in Yangon (Rangoon), is a pro-democracy activist and leader of the National League for Democracy in Myanmar (Burma), and a noted prisoner of conscience and advocate of nonviolent resistance. Aung San Suu Kyi was the third child in her family. Her name "Aung San" derives from her father, "Kyi" from her mother and "Suu" from her grandmother. A Buddhist, Suu Kyi won the Rafto Prize and the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 1990 and the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. In 1992 she was awarded the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru peace prize by the Government of India for her peaceful and non-violent struggle under a military dictatorship. She is currently under detention, with the Myanmar government repeatedly extending her detention. According to the results of the 1990 general election, Suu Kyi earned the right to be Prime Minister, as leader of the winning National League for Democracy party, but her detention by the military junta prevented her from assuming that role.

One of her most famous speeches is the "Freedom From Fear" speech, which begins:
“ It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it.”
(Source: Wikipedia)

On next December 17th will take place the presentation of the 2007 FAIR-PLAYER Awards, acknowledgments which the No Fair - No Play Onlus Ethics Committee (President: Luciano Capponi – Honorary Members: Nevio Scala, Gianfranco Zola) bestows each year to “Every Day Champions”, men who know how to bring style and passion on the field, professionals from various sectors, devoted to whatever endeavours they undertake. Who play to win but also know how to lose.
In lightness, with sportsman spirit, respect, honour, friendship.
For the 2007 edition, the award has been granted to Roberto Baggio.

Hello, everyone.
First of all, I wish to thank all those who worked with passion and enthusiasm on this project. I am sincerely honoured to receive the 2007 “Fair Play”, because it is a solid engagement in favour of youngsters.
As FAO Ambassador, but firstly as a man and a parent, I am always profoundly saddened by the suffering which in many parts of the World afflict the lives of children and youths.
We must remember that they are in fact our future, to protect their growth and to firmly engage ourselves in their favour must become the challenge of this century and all together we must succeed.
To observe a group of soccer players who go head-to-head with loyalty, running after the ball, just like that, even without any rules as we used to do as youngsters, is truly an image which moves a person. And it will always move someone, who like me, loved and loves this game: let’s make sure that such a sensation always remains alive.
To think of sports, to think of soccer, which for me still represents a huge and endless passion, encourages exchange, friendship, solidarity: values which represent a necessity for the creation of a better world, made up of better men. This future is in the hands of the children and youths of today, let’s help them.
From the bottom of my heart, my warmest thanks.

Roberto Baggio

NO FAIR – NO PLAY ONLUS

A little “thought” from Luciano Capponi, conceiver of the No Fair-No Play project and President of the Ethics Committee

The good Lord saw that the children were entering the soccer fields, on Sunday, hand in hand with the soccer players and said: “It is a good thing...”
Then He saw many children entering for free, always at the stadium, and could not help Himself but whisper: “It is a good thing…”
He looked a little closer and noticed that those children, beyond the vague smiles and shouts, had sad eyes and thought: “Hmmm..,”, and looked a little closer.
“It looks like publicity…”, He reflected and it turned out that during the week, the adults were no longer holding their children by the hand.
So He then went lurking in soccer schools, to re-discover that smile which He, with full hands, had once endowed to mankind, and heard a phrase from an instructor: “Break his legs!”
“Oh, my God… (and smiled, obviously, because He was referring to Himself) … the publicity is hiding something.”
For awhile, He stopped observing and noticed that an enormous paradox was devouring the world.
A peace soldier died on mission… “A peace soldier? – He told Himself – Would that not be the same as using a knife to make tea?”
He whispered: “There’s something not right.”
And even in His divine mercy, He swirled His hands a tad nervously.
He glanced here and there, no longer superficially.
And saw children killed by parents…
Adults blinded by ardent pedophile urges…
The third sex and … the fourth, the fifth… and whatever else.
The disasters of Saturday night.
The showgirls.
And saw the wars in the stadiums…
“The war in the stadiums”.
In the hearts.
Hence, the good Lord had nothing else to say.
Alone, for a little while, He thought: “Hmmm…”
“Why do they not think of the children? – He said to a few angels while they flitted blissfully – There’s the need for a long-term program… there’s a lot of work to be done and… no time to waste!”
He then lit the television and heard only awful news and saw atrocious scenes.
“Why don’t they do newscasts about good things?”, was said by the good Lord.
“Because You are a do-gooder and simple-minded” – replied a keen angel. “Furthermore – continued the angel – there is the right to news, the empire of the medias and…”
“Enough”, thundered the good Lord.
But no one heard His voice because “equal time” came into effect and… someone else took the stand.
Guess who.
Luciano Capponi
www.nofairnoplay.it

On the 16th of October of every year, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations celebrates the World Food Day to commemorate the anniversary of its foundation, which came about on October 16th, 1945. The theme for World Food Day 2007 is “The Right to Food”.
Roberto Baggio, FAO Ambassador, presided at the international assembly which took place today in Rome, with an opening address from the Director-General of the FAO, Jacques Diouf, who reminded that “in the world today, there are 854 million women, men and children who suffer from hunger, even if the planet produces food in quantity and quality sufficient for everyone”.
The following is Roberto’s address.

Your Excellencies,
Mr. President Köhler,
Mr. President Kikwete,
Mr. Director-General,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Roberto Baggio

Dear Friends,

Thank you truly for the support that you are giving to Heroes Company!

Only a week has gone by since our presentation and your affirmations of esteem are already numerous indeed. Thank you again. Of course, at this moment, it is important to keep the attention alive, to speak out, to get informed. The risk of losing the emotional phase in only a flash is huge. We must all engage ourselves so that this does not occur, we must always keep in mind those persons who still today, at this very moment, are fighting for the freedom of their country, requesting democracy and justice. Let’s not leave them in the shadows; let’s always keep them on our minds. They need our help!

I have read your messages on the blog and am happy to see so much interest from many of you who want to get involved. We want to change attitudes, to acknowledge that it is important to give our utmost support to those persons who are fighting strenuously for a better future, to offer support to the heroes of our times.

I lived the suffering in Laos in the first person. This beautiful Country holds a sad reality: it was the most bombarded after World War II. Above all, the so-called “cluster bombs” were then used, which still today provoke an incredible number of deaths. The Laotian territory is still very much plagued by unexploded bombs, which continue to explode, causing deaths and injuries still today, some thirty years after their drop. It is frightful. When the war gear does not kill, it produces terrible amputations in people. The families are dealt with continuous mourning; taking the wrong road and ending up on a bomb splinter, this is what could definitely change one’s life, torture it even. And yet, these people have such a will to live … to smile, they are kind towards the world. Those who survive often cannot return to a life of dignity, and this is not right. This is why I wanted that first aid arrive here. The purpose is to have prostheses reach them in order to give new possibilities to all those injured who lost a limb due to these cowardly and uncontrollable attacks.

I have asked for the teamwork of Vittorio and that of his staff, who have followed me for fourteen years during my professional career. Now, I would like that they put their skills and experience at work for this cause, in which I truly believe.

Several friends have called me and have written to me enthused about wanting to lend their support to Heroes Company. We are fine-tuning everything; some time is necessary to properly structure the organization. As soon as we are ready, we will notify you as to how you can help. We need everyone. Above all, the Heroes of our times must no longer remain on their own. Let us give them also our voice.

Hugs, Roberto