Chosen twice by FIFA as World Footballer of the Year, Mia Hamm will promote the 2011 Women’s World Cup in Germany as the first international ambassador. “No other player has influenced women’s soccer as greatly and positively as Mia Hamm. I am very proud to have such a personality in our team. With her outstanding successes and high profile she will help us to ensure a positive image at home and abroad for the Women’s World Cup,” said Steffi Jones, President of the Organizing Committee, at a press conference in late October 2009.
Hamm, a US citizen, was clearly enthusiastic about her new task. “It is a great honour for me to act as international ambassador for the Women’s World Cup. I am sure it will set new standards. I was in Germany as a fan during the fairytale summer of 2006 and so now as an ambassador I would like to help ensure we have an equally fantastic championship in 2011.” Hamm went on to say that she was expecting full stadiums, given that the Women’s World Cup in the “marvellous German arenas” would definitely be a great highlight. She was also confident that the Germans “would again prove to be fabulous hosts.”
The 37-year-old is one of the great idols in women’s soccer. As a member of the US women’s national team Hamm won the World Cup 1991 and 1999 as well as a Gold Medal at the 1996 and 2004 Olympic Games. What is more, FIFA named her World Football Player of the Year in 2001 and 2002, and together with Michelle Akers is the only woman on the FIFA 100 list drawn up by Pelé of the 125 best players in football history.
