San Francisco Schoolchildren Compete in Youth World Cup

SAN FRANCISCO, June 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- There's more than one soccer team winning for the US in Johannesburg this week.  A San Francisco youth soccer team is competing in a World Cup for schools from around the world. Ten boys and girls from the 5th and 6th grades at the French-American International School are representing the US on and off the soccer pitch. And they're on a winning streak.

During the qualification stage, the San Francisco-USA team has won against Denmark, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Tunisia.  Saturday they compete against the Congo in the quarterfinals.

25 schools from around the world are in Johannesburg to represent their home countries, with some 280 participants from 5 continents testing their mettle in the first-ever World Cup for French International Schools.  The competition is hosted by French Embassy in South Africa.

According to French-American Lower School principal and team coach Ray Hinz, "This is really a multicultural event, with a sports and an educational component.  Nine members of our team are Americans and one is French. All of them follow the both American and French curriculum at the French American International School and live in San Francisco. We are proud to participate in this exciting event.  It is quite an honor."

While in Johannesburg for the World Cup, the Californian students are participating at

• A World Cup Village representing each participating school
• An International Youth Parliament. All Students from around the world will participate in a full-day conference on topics related to life at their school and host country (health, environment, society ... )
• A rally entitled 'Citizens of the World' in Johannesburg, Pretoria and Soweto. Themes explored range from Apartheid to the birth of the Rainbow Nation included a tour of key cultural and historic places

Press kit: http://www.coupedumonde.lfk.fr/CMEFE%20-%20Dossier%20Presse%20ENG.pdf

Video clip:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghS9mbPvhGo

Contact:  Polly Lyman  415-558-2021  [email protected]

SOURCE French American International School