Player escort

Player escorts with Polish national team during UEFA Euro 2012

Player escort (also called match mascot) is a child who accompanies football player entering the pitch. Player escorts hold hands with the footballer while he walks in and stay with him during the anthem. The children are usually between 6 and 18 years old.[1] In addition to assisting players, they often have duties such as carrying flags, helping the sideline ball crew and playing matches with each other.[1]

Children have appeared with football players at least since the 1990s either as one mascot for each team or one for every player.[2][3] The UEFA Euro 2000 was one of the first major events where player escorts aapeared with every footballer.[2] In club games children are usually members of youth teams or contest winners.[4] Since 2002 World Cup or European Championship escorts are selected in a competition hosted by McDonald's, sponsor of the event.[5][6]

There are various reasons why players walk in with children. These include promoting children rights campaigns, bringing the element of innocence to the game, fulfilling children dreams or making profit of it.[2]

On some occasions there can be special escorts. For example, Ajax Amsterdam players walked out with their mothers on Mother's Day[7] and São Paulo FC players walked out with dogs to raise awareness to stray dogs problem.[8] Some famous players like Wayne Rooney used to be player escort in their childhood.[3]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to player escorts.

References

  1. 1 2 Kim Bellware (July 14, 2010). "The World Cup Is Over, So Let's Finally Answer All Your Burning Soccer Questions". Huffington Post.
  2. 1 2 3 Ivan Anich (October 7, 2015). "Why Do Soccer Players Walk Out With Kids?". The18.
  3. 1 2 Lorna Hughes (September 10, 2015). "Revealed: The other mascot with Wayne Rooney at 1996 Merseyside Derby". Liverpool Echo.
  4. ↑ Felicia Clow (September 21, 2015). "Why Do Football Players Walk Out With Children?". whoareyadesigns.
  5. ↑ "The McDonald's Player Escort Programme". FIFA.
  6. ↑ "McDonald's Launches Search for UEFA EURO 2016™ Player Escorts". McDonald's. February 29, 2016.
  7. ↑ Dan Quarrell (May 10, 2015). "Ajax players walk out with their mums on Mother's Day". Eurosport.
  8. ↑ Will Magee (September 30, 2015). "Sao Paulo players accompanied onto pitch by very odd mascots ahead of Palmeiras match". The Mirror.
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