A sporting fixture of an altogether different kind kicks off for the first time in the UK this summer, with the arrival of The Homeless World Cup (HWC), a global street soccer tournament involving 32 teams of homeless people from around the globe.

Sponsored and supported by Nike, UEFA and The United Nations, The Homeless World Cup is an international street soccer event that highlights the positive power of sport by creating a unique setting for homeless people and people in poverty. Mel Young and Harald Schmied created the concept in 2001 at the Annual International Network of Street Papers Conference (INSP), which works on practical solutions for homelessness and poverty. Founded in 1995 the INSP today acts as a network for more than 60 street papers worldwide.

In providing excluded people with access to football, the Homeless World Cup generates a new social impact for a marginalised group. The feeling of belonging, challenge of working in a team, the process of regaining a health- oriented attitude towards life, self esteem and last but not least the experience of fun.

The Scottish Executive, EventScotland, SportScotland and the City of Edinburgh Council, UEFA, Nike, Standard Life, Forth are supporting this year¹s event in Edinburgh. The United Nations has also pledged its support in recognition of the important part the Homeless World Cup plays in the lives of the disenfranchised.

The Scotland team who competed last year in Gothenburg and came fourth after a narrow defeat by Austria, shall be once again competing, hoping to get all the way to the finals! So come along and support Scotland! All information on the event is on www.streetsoccer.org

The brainchild of Big Issue in Scotland founder, Mel Young, and Harald Schmied from Austria, The Homeless World Cup is in its third year and, following huge success in Austria 2003 and Sweden 2004, has grown out of all proportion in terms of team entries, spectators, exposure and support with increasing global impact on poverty. A week-long competition, with players from 32 countries, it is scheduled to take place in the streets of Edinburgh from 20-24 July 2005, and is predicted to attract at least 50,000 spectators.

"The Homeless World Cup aims to tackle global poverty, specifically challenging the issue of homeless people and results to date have been simply astounding in terms of changing lives and changing perceptions," says co-founder Mel Young. "Football is a great leveller, it connects people and is a grass roots sport for everyone. The Homeless World Cup is able to change the scenery, challenge stereotyping and people who have been spat at the week before are cheered by thousands and treated as soccer heroes during the tournament. It is quite extraordinary ­ this kind of change is previously unheard of for the most disaffected people in the world who are usually cast aside and alienated by society," says Young.

The Homeless World Cup is full of inspiring, courageous teams and players. The Netherland's team Haags Straatnieuws, is lead by ex-premier league player Steve Cromwell of Sparta Rotterdam, who is making his way back from drugs and homelessness when injury ended his football career. He says: "When playing soccer, you forget about your problems. It opens your spirit. I want my players to be disciplined, and show that they are grown up men. Good sportsmanship is so important. If we make this tournament a success, it will be an experience they will never forget."

The United Nations are also firm supporters of the Homeless World Cup. 2005 is the United Nation¹s International Year of Sport and Physical Education and they see street soccer as a perfect example of how sport can be used to tackle exclusion: "The Homeless World Cup puts the emphasis on the potential of sport. It offers a precious frame for the empowerment of the youth and young adults on the edge of society. By using the universal language of sport, particularly a team sport such as football, you favour a better mutual understanding between the participants," says Adolf Ogi, Special Advisor to the Secretary-General on Sport for Development and Peace.

HWC teams are supported by world-class football teams and it is hoped this will spark support and involvement from other big name clubs in setting up the soccer academies around the world, which are planned to further increase the impact of the Homeless World Cup. England is supported by Manchester United and Spain has links with Real Madrid.

WHEN: 20-24 July 2005 Homeless World Cup heads to Edinburgh, UK WHERE: Princes Street Gardens (at Ross Band Stand) TIMES: Approx 1pm - 9pm every day ENTRY FEE: None

TEAMS: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, China, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Namibia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Scotland, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, Uruguay, USA, Wales, Zambia

For further information log onto www.streetsoccer.org.