Chevrolet’s Beautiful Possibilities Program Puts Two Children from Thailand in Spotlight for Manchester United Match

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – Eleven children from around the world, including Chanchira (“Film”) and Jinnawat (“Beer”) from Thailand, capped a once-in-a-lifetime experience Saturday by participating as mascots in Manchester United’s match vs. Liverpool at Old Trafford stadium as part of Chevrolet’s Beautiful Possibilities Program.

With millions of fans watching around the world, upon entering the pitch each Manchester United first team player wore a match shirt with the name of his mascot on the back. Moments before the match began, in a show of admiration and in line with football tradition, the players removed the shirts and presented them to the mascots.

Chanchira and Jinnawat, both 10, were joined by children from Brazil, China, India and the United States – all 8 to 14 years old. Chanchira, who accompanied Manchester United’s defender Daley Blind (no. 17), and Jinnawat, who accompanied left-back defender Luke Shaw (no. 23), were selected and brought to Manchester by Chevrolet because they embody the spirit of play. In the days leading up to the match, they met Manchester United players and legends, attended Manchester United Soccer School and toured Old Trafford, among other activities. Each child’s story is featured at www.ChevroletFC.com.

“We believe that football and play can change lives and create beautiful possibilities,” said Tim Mahoney, chief marketing officer, Global Chevrolet. “What we witnessed today at Old Trafford was something the children and their families and friends never had thought possible. You need to look no further than the mascots’ faces when they walked onto the pitch.”

Marcos Purty, Managing Director of General Motors Thailand and Chevrolet Sales Thailand, added: “Having met these wonderful children, I was absolutely thrilled to see them take the field with the Manchester United football club. I’m sure they will cherish the memory and be inspired by the experience for years to come.”

As part of its Beautiful Possibilities Program, Chevrolet enables children greater participation in football by working with local nonprofit organizations to revitalize and transform community pitches in Brazil, India, Thailand and other countries. In April, Chevrolet revitalized the Bang Bua School playground in the Chatuchak district of Bangkok for World Vision Foundation of Thailand, a development and humanitarian organization that develops the lives of children, families and communities as well as people afflicted by conflicts and disasters.

During the pitch revitalization, Chevrolet worked with World Vision to identify Chanchira and Jinnawat to participate as mascots. It’s the second consecutive year Chevrolet has brought children from around the world to Manchester to participate as mascots, an experience the brand plans to continue for years to come.

“Our players were proud to walk onto the pitch with the children wearing their names on the back of their shirts, and as a Club we look forward to continuing to be part of this unique tradition for our fans created by Chevrolet,” Manchester United Group Managing Director, Richard Arnold said.

In addition to its Beautiful Possibilities Program, since 2012 Chevrolet has brought play to an estimated 45 million youth in underprivileged communities in more than 90 countries worldwide by distributing more than 1.5 million ultra-durable footballs from One World Play Project. Chevrolet, the official sponsor of One World Play Project, has committed to distributing 2 million One World Futballs, which the mascots used on penalty kicks at halftime during Saturday’s match.