UMU AND 46664

adidas and Nelson Mandela’s 46664 Charity Celebrate Diversity and Unity in South Africa

adidas proudly unveils the inspirational UMU campaign and commits to supporting sustainable development in South Africa during and after the 2010 FIFA World Cup

adidas proudly unveil the adidas UMU campaign. The adidas UMU campaign was created to inspire the world to celebrate diversity in unity while raising funds for Nelson Mandela’s 46664 foundation and developing long-term projects that leave a legacy long after the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ is over. UMU stands for Unite Mzansi Unite (Mzansi means “South Africa” in isiXhosa) and represents one of adidas’ key charitable efforts in South Africa.

The founder of the 46664 charity, Nelson Mandela, comments: “Sport has the power to change the world, the power to inspire, the power to unite people in a way that little else can.”

adidas football superstar Steven Pienaar adds: “The adidas UMU campaign is very inspiring to me. I am so proud of my country and fully support South African unity in the build-up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. I am honoured that I will get to play in front of my nation who will be united and wearing yellow in support of us.”

The Unite Mzansi Unite campaign aims to follow in the footsteps of South Africa’s former President Nelson Mandela, rallying all South Africans to celebrate and host the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ in unity. The UMU campaign was created to inspire South Africans to unite as a nation by wearing yellow, the colour of the new Bafana Bafana 2010 FIFA World Cup™ home jersey.

adidas created a giant jersey which is currently touring South Africa via a huge adidas branded truck giving the entire nation, from school children to celebrities, the opportunity to sign the giant jersey as a demonstration of their support. Each person who signs the jersey receives a gift from adidas – a unique, multi-functional yellow product called the UMU, which allows each individual to wear it how he or she wants and celebrate their support for South African unity.

Now adidas, 46664 and South Africa invite football fans around the world to support the UMU campaign by purchasing the yellow UMU product for €10 and adidas will donate all of its profits to support Nelson Mandela’s 46664 charity. The UMU product will hit retail on May 24th, 2010 and will be available in all adidas Sport Performance stores as well as at leading e-retailers and selected sports retailers around the world.