Fire fighters on the pitch
Posted on 13/09/2009
Fire fighters are loved and respected all over the world and Italy is no exception as Vigili del Fuoco are the most loved of armed forces.
They inspire confidence and reassurance and people rely on them in time of emergencies and crisis. Their job, however, is not always fighting fires and providing support in extreme situation; sometimes their contribution is just being there, to make sure that everything is all right and there are no risks, so that people can enjoy themselves and public events are safe.
This is the case also for the Homeless World Cup. The Milan Fire fighting central unit, il Comando dei Vigili del Fuoco di Milano, has provided its support to the Cup by ensuring the presence of its men and women. They have inspected the venue before the event, helped with making sure that all permits were in place and have been a constant presence throughout the Cup. You can spot the red fire truck on the field and see the men and women on duty.
We spoke with the unit on duty today and interviewed the team leader. They are not exactly volunteers, as they are here following their duty roster, but, day after day, they got involved in the event. They had no previous knowledge of the existence of the Homeless World Cup and had the chance to get to know the meaning of the year long work behind it.
They appreciated, most of all, the international scope of the activities and the fact that there is no age or gender restrictions in the composition of different teams.
They watched the matches and were struck by the level of the players and their professionalism, by their commitment.
Furthermore, the Homeless World Cup gave them the chance to see homeless people from a perspective dramatically different from the one they might encounter while on duty.
Elisabetta Pontello
