Two Thai children at Old Trafford stadium
Play
Eleven children from around the world, including Chanchira (Film) and Jinnawat (Beer) from Thailand, on Saturday participated as mascots in Manchester United's match vs. Liverpool at Old Trafford stadium.
With millions of fans watching around the world, upon entering the pitch each Manchester United first team player wore a match shirt with the name of his mascot on the back. Moments before the match began, in a show of admiration and in line with football tradition, the players removed the shirts and presented them to the mascots.
Chanchira and Jinnawat, both 10, were joined by children from Brazil, China, India and the United States – all 8 to 14 years old, as part of Chevrolet’s Beautiful Possibilities Programme.
Chanchira, who accompanied Manchester United’s defender Daley Blind (no. 17), and Jinnawat, who accompanied left-back defender Luke Shaw (no. 23), were selected and brought to Manchester by Chevrolet because they embody the spirit of play.
“We believe that football and play can change lives and create beautiful possibilities,” said Tim Mahoney, chief marketing officer, Global Chevrolet. “What we witnessed at Old Trafford was something the children and their families and friends never had thought possible. You need to look no further than the mascots’ faces when they walked onto the pitch.”
Chevrolet worked with local nonprofit organisations to revitalise and transform community pitches in Brazil, India, Thailand and other countries. In April, Chevrolet revitalised the Bang Bua School playground in the Chatuchak district of Bangkok for World Vision Foundation of Thailand.
It is the second consecutive year Chevrolet has brought children from around the world to Manchester to participate as mascots, an experience the brand plans to continue for years to come.
“Our players were proud to walk onto the pitch with the children wearing their names on the back of their shirts, and as a Club we look forward to continuing to be part of this unique tradition for our fans created by Chevrolet,” Manchester United Group Managing Director Richard Arnold said.
