Nike Football In The Gap brings football to quake affected Christchurch city block via Us Sydney
Hundreds
of players and fans turned out in Christchurch on Monday for the launch
of Nike Football In The Gap - a free community football pitch that
fills one of the many vacant 'gaps' between buildings in the quake
affected CBD via Us Sydney.Us Sydney and Nike collaborated with Rebuild Christchurch and other local partners to transform the disused block into a playable football pitch. The initiative was launched to coincide with the first All Whites match in Christchurch since the quake. All Whites players and the New Zealand futsal team were on hand to watch a 5-a-side tournament featuring amateur players recruited from Nike Football New Zealand Facebook and the Christchurch football community.
Click here to visit the Nike Football NZ Facebook page.
Inspired by the Rebuild Christchurch movement, Nike Football In The Gap
uses football as a way to create a new, positive space for the
recovering city. It's hoped the pitch will also help to attract people
back into the CBD 'red zone', an area that up until recently has been
out of bounds due to damaged infrastructure. The pitch was officially
handed over to the people of 
Christchurch on Monday and will remain open
for an extended period for anyone who loves football to come and play.Says Paul Faulkner, Nike pacific managing director: "This is a great opportunity for us to share our true passion and ongoing support for Football. It all starts here, in these communities, with a common place for footballers to
belong."Says Christy Peacock, Us Sydney executive creative director: "This gives young footballers a way to take back their city, kick-by-kick, game-by-game. We're proud to be a part of giving back to this great football community that has lost so much."
Nike
Managing Director Nike Pacific: Paul
FaulknerMarketing Director Nike Pacific: Juliana Nguyen
Brand Manager Nike Pacific: Andrew Keith
Marketing Manager Nike New Zealand: Jayne Lusk
New Zealand Sports Marketing Manager: Shane Rose
Us Sydney
Executive Creative Director: Christy Peacock
Head of Art: Tim Chenery
Copywriter: David Roberts
Designer: Steve Stewart
Agency Producer: Trelise Caughey
Senior Account Director: Kirsty Reynolds
Account Manager: Andrew Shannon
Partners
Limelight Sports
Rebuild Christchurch
BuildTech
Rhino Turf
Grassman
Pothole People
Good on them. If it gives kids a game of footy, rebuilds a community and leaves them with a smile on their faces, I guess that's all that matters.
It seems like brands are getting involved in more tangible CSR stuff now, even pushing new technology into these causes (the post-tsunami apps in Japan being a case in point.)
I'm not sure all new-generation creatives are more noble than the ones of yesteryear (some of whom got more socially conscious in direct proportion to how closely award deadlines were looming.)
Still, it's end result that counts, and I'm not a professional cynic. Yet.
Nice work boyz. Kicking goals as per.
Nice feel good PR piece. Best thing to hit Christchurch since the quake.
The AFL and NRL couldn't do anything this cool.