Sports : Celebrities: Miss Universe + 1000 kids in Toronto will host a soccer match of Canadian vs Italian politicos

Welcome Miss Universe!
with cast of more than a thousand, Italian Senators and Canadian Parliamentarians!

A team made up of Italian Senators and Members of Parliament will be coming to Toronto to play their Canadian counterparts in a cross-Atlantic soccer match billed as the "Battle of Parliaments: Kick-off for Youth." Team Canada players include Peter MacKay, M.P., Frank Klees, M.P.P. and team captain Hon. Maurizio Bevilacqua, M.P.

The match will begin at 8 p.m. on Thursday, August 4th at Centennial Stadium, 56 Centennial Park Road, in Toronto (south of Eglinton Ave., west of Renforth Dr.). The teams, who will be playing in support of the newly launched Universal Youth Foundation, will be welcomed at the stadium by over 1000 children and Miss Universe - Natalie Glebova. Founded by philanthropist Mario Cortellucci, the Universal Youth Foundation is committed to providing educational assistance to children and youth in need throughout the world by funding schools and teachers.

A Gala Dinner Dance honouring the players will take place on August 5th at the Renaissance Parque Convention Centre in Vaughan, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Under the theme, "Back to School for Children who don't have Schools," the event will raise funds for the Universal Youth Foundation. The Honorary Chair for the evening is Julian Fantino, Commissioner of Emergency Management and Former Chief, Toronto Police Service.

The soccer match will be the first opportunity for the Italian parliamentary soccer team to travel to North America to raise funds for a worthy cause. In the past, the team has raised funds for such causes as the south Asian tsunami relief effort.