Soccer Ball Helps Kick Polio Out of Africa

While thousands of Rotarians will gather at the RI Convention this June in Montreal, there will be one other special visitor: a soccer ball.

Since February, a special red-and-white soccer ball has been making its way through Africa and will continue to pass through other continents and countries en route to the RI Convention. Once it arrives in Montreal, it will have traveled to 22 countries in the world that are affected by polio.

The ball has visited numerous local leaders, been signed by presidents of different African nations and by African soccer stars. Children in rural schools have gotten to see the ball and learn about polio and Rotary’s efforts to eradicate it.

Rotary International has created an interactive map, through which Rotarians who won’t get a chance to see the ball in person can follow its progress to Montreal and learn about the ball’s interaction with local leaders and citizens at each stop. Experience the map and read more about the soccer ball here.

A snapshot of the interactive map