BRINGING THE GAMES HOME
When London won the competition to host the 2012 Olympics, David played a prominent role in the bid-winning team.
"I was asked to get involved in the bid a year ago and was honoured by that. Then I got the phone call about being part of the final decision and coming out to Singapore.”
"At the time I had things that were planned and I turned around to Victoria and said, 'I've just had this phone call and it's an incredible honour to be asked', so straight away I said yes.”
“I am so glad I went. It was amazing to be there when the announcement was made. The 2012 team did really well. It’s amazing what you can achieve when you put your mind to it.”
For David, the decision to get behind the bid was easy. "I was born in Leytonstone in Waltham Forest, one of the host boroughs for the London Olympics, and I played football on Hackney Marshes as a kid, so I was very keen to support the 2012 bid.”
“I really believe that sport can be a positive force for good. Bringing the Olympics to London means that loads of children from the South East and the rest of the country will get a chance to experience the power of sport first hand.”
“I’m so proud to be a part of it.”
GOODWILL AMBASSADOR
David has had a long standing relationship with UNICEF dating back to his time at Manchester United.
Along with other players he had a prominent role with the organisation helping to raise more than £1.2million for humanitarian causes through its 'United for UNICEF' campaign.
David continued to give his time to the charity after moving to Real Madrid in 2003, and was asked to become a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF by the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Anan in 2004.
Speaking at the time, David said: "It is one of the proudest moments of my life to be given the role of UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and I hope to play a part in supporting these children in their time of need.”
Soon after his appointment David visited a UNICEF supply centre in Copenhagen to support the charity’s efforts for Asian Tsunami victims.
David has been actively involved in UNICEF's Sports for Development programme, which attempts to improve the lives of children affected by poverty, disease and conflict through the benefits of sport.
David has also played a leading role in UNICEF’s global campaign 'Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS’ with fellow ambassador Robbie Williams. The campaign raises awareness of the devastation that AIDS is causing to families across the globe.
Most recently David and Victoria Beckham hosted a pre 2006 World Cup party to raise funds for UNICEF and other charities. Over two million pounds was raised for UNICEF, David and Victoria’s Children’s Charity and the Prince’s Trust.
