Background

The Football for Friendship international children's social project is implemented by Gazprom within the Gazprom for Children initiative. The program is aimed at developing youth football and fostering tolerance and respect toward different cultures and ethnicities among children from across the world. The key values supported and promoted by the project's participants include friendship, equality, fairness, health, peace, devotion, victory, traditions, and honor.

The annual Football for Friendship International Children's Forum is the most important event of the program, bringing together 12- to 14-year-old players from top football clubs. The first Forum was held in London on May 25, 2013.

The Football for Friendship project has a special prize: the Nine Values Cup is a unique trophy awarded annually to a professional football club for the implementation of social initiatives based on the program's values. The winner is chosen by young ambassadors of Football for Friendship through a vote that is held in all countries participating in the project.

The Football for Friendship Forum gives young footballers a chance to communicate with their peers from other countries, as well as with famous athletes and cultural figures. Traditionally, the participants attend the UEFA Champions League Final after the Forum is over.

In 2016, the project brought together young football players from the following countries: Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Syria, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam.

In 2016, the Football for Friendship project was supported by over 100,000 children and adults from various countries, over 2,000 journalists, and over 100 famous athletes, performers, and TV presenters. Support for the project was announced by leading football clubs, including Atletico de Madrid (Spain), Beijing (China), Besiktas (Turkey), Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia), Inter Milan (Italy), Kairat (Kazakhstan), Rapid (Austria), Sparta Prague (Czech Republic), Tokyo (Japan), West Ham United (UK), and Zenit (Russia).

Gazprom is a global energy company focused on geological exploration, production, transportation, storage, processing and sales of gas (including as NGV fuel), gas condensate and oil, as well as generation and distribution of heat and electric power. The Company operates in Russia, Africa, Middle East, Europe, and Latin America, as well as Central, South and Southeast Asia.

Gazprom is the world's largest company in terms of natural gas reserves and production output, with gas delivered to consumers in Russia and more than 30 other countries. The Company is among Russia's four largest oil producers. It also owns major power-generating assets in Russia. In addition, Gazprom holds the leading position in the global thermal energy market.

In addition to pursuing an active business development strategy, Gazprom pays great attention to social projects. The Company supports numerous sports organizations and events on a national and international scale. Among other things, Gazprom is the official partner of the UEFA Champions League, offering support to the UEFA Super Cup and a whole range of world-famous football clubs, including Russia's Zenit, Germany's Schalke 04, and Serbia's Crvena Zvezda.