Sometimes it can be rare to see the world’s richest help the world’s poorest in significant ways but in this case, Roberto Baggio, former Italian footballer, has been awarded the World Peace Award for 2010 for his many efforts in helping the world’s less advantaged.
It must be a happy time for Baggio as since the prize was announced, so has the freedom of Aung San Suu Kyi – a cause which he has also been close to in recent years.
Baggio, known as the Divin Codino (divine ponytail), has had a long and top-class career in Italian football, but since his retirement from playing, has dedicated himself to many causes, from disaster relief in Haiti, to human rights awareness and even to the recent flood relief program taking place in his local region of Veneto.
Recently, Baggio has taken on the role of technical president in the Italian Football Federation, but the new work hasn’t stopped him from continuing his humanitarian efforts.
Roberto Baggio joins a list of illustrious names – high profile people who have dedicated their money, status and time to humanitarian causes and peace processes in the world.
Other winners of the World Peace Award include Bono, Cat Stevens, and Bob Geldof, as well as fellow Italian Roberto Benigni.
The Italians can’t help but be proud that one international Italian is carrying the good name of the country, and showing his prowess off the field by giving of himself in other areas.