Through a press release, Venezia announced that it had structured a collaboration together with the UIM E1 World Championship with Team Drogba. This is the statement:
Venice, Italy – May 3, 2024 – Venezia FC (VFC), the professional football team from Venice founded in 1907, and the UIM E1 World Championship, the world’s first electric speedboat racing series, have announced a partnership with Team Drogba, supported by Ivorian football legend Didier Drogba, Lilium Group and Chiron Sports Group. This collaboration represents an innovative sports entertainment initiative that combines the passion of football, the innovation of electric racing and the participation of global icons as well as representing a crucial moment in the field of environmental sustainability and social responsibility.
Venezia FC’s mission is characterized by a commitment to safeguarding Venice and the environment for community and social causes, through the unique cultural power of sport as a vehicle for social impact and progress. In its inaugural season, E1 identified four pillars for sustainability in sport: events and logistics, technology, regenerative actions for coastal urban areas and city engagement. E1 represents a strong convergence between sports, entertainment and sustainability, highlighting the potential for collective action to address today’s most pressing challenges.
Didier Drogba, through the Didier Drogba Foundation, supports social causes and philanthropy and founded Team Drogba to shine a light on marine conservation through the social power and visibility of sport. The partnership seeks to bring together respective stakeholders, including fans, public institutions and corporate partners, with the common goal of promoting sustainability in sports. At the heart of this collaboration is a shared vision to tackle ocean plastic pollution and climate change.
Didier Drogba: “I am thrilled to partner with a city and a team with ambitions as grand as those of Venezia FC, both on and off the pitch. Together, we have the incredible opportunity to have a positive impact on the cleanliness of our waters and to inspire meaningful change for future generations.”
Duncan Niederauer, President of Venezia FC: “We are delighted to welcome Team Drogba as a cultural and sustainability partner of our club. One of our community goals is to increasingly undertake shared sporting partnerships that harness the power of sport. We can learn a lot from Didier’s leadership in football and commitment to important global causes.”
For the match on May 5th against Feralpisalò, Venezia FC will produce a limited edition of playing shirts with the Team Drogba (“TD”) brand, donating part of the proceeds from the sales of these shirts to a charity thanks to the partnership with CharityStars. The shirt will be available by the end of May on the CharityStars website: www.charitystars.com and details about the cause and availability will be highlighted on our social media channels in the coming weeks.
Team Drogba will participate in the second race of E1’s debut season, which will be held in Venice on 12 May, displaying the Venezia FC logo on the iconic RaceBird as a commitment to the city, the team and its cause.
For further information and updates on the partnership, follow Venezia Football Club, UIM E1 World Championship and Team Drogba on their respective accounts in the main social media.
About the UIM E1 World Championship
The E1 is the world’s first and only all-electric racing boat championship sanctioned by the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM), which is the international governing body for all powerboating activities. The UIM E1 World Championship was established to create a new, exciting and competitive on-water racing platform based on electric technologies to protect and restore our urban waters and coastal areas.
The championship will see nine treams and 18 mixed-gender drivers race on water in iconic cities around the world, with the United States hosting a race in season two. E1 drivers will navigate tight, technical circuits behind the wheel of E1 electric racing boats. For the latest news and updates, follow us at @E1Series on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. WaterChampions
About Team Drogba
Team Drogba is one of the founding participants of the E1 World Championship, supported by Didier Drogba, president of the Didier Drogba Foundation, Lilium Group and Chiron Sports Group. Team Drogba joined the E1 series not only to compete, but also to support a global, forward-thinking championship that highlights the importance of sustainability in marine life.
The main mission of the Didier Drogba Foundation is to facilitate access to health and education for vulnerable populations and to contribute to their strengthening through the mobilization of resources, the development of partnerships and innovative projects.
