The Living Forest of ‘ La Roja’
AdeZ Foundation- Honours Spain World Cup Glory with Eco Monument
Colombo- In a beautiful fusion of global football passion and ecological stewardship, a living monument to Spain’s FIFA world cup triumph is taking root thousands of miles away in South Asia at the premises of Sri Lanka Technology Campus (SLTC). Led by the AdeZ Foundation, that is totally committed to climate change activities, this ambitious, reforestation initiative-titled ‘Green Through Football’ has transformed the landscape into a permanent, breathing tribute to La Roja.
To celebrate Spain’s historic FIFA world championship, AdeZ Foundation brought together government officials, university professors, environmentalists, top football administrators and sports veterans to plant exactly 27 indigenous Mee trees along the perimeter of the campus. Among the distinguished guests joining the environmental crusade were former Sri Lankan National Football player B.R.A. Preena, alongside key representatives from the Sri Lanka Football Federation including the Head of Finance Mrs. Nirukshika Attanayake and Finance Executive Mr. Ajith Wickremasinghe, Vice Chancellor Prof. Chandrika Wijeratne and former IUCN Chairperson Prof. Nirmalee Pallewatte. Each planted tree serves as a permanent, living tribute to honour every individual member of the 26-man Spanish World Cup Squad plus their visionary head coach
A Gift That Grows
While football victories are traditionally marked by silver trophies and parades, the AdeZ Foundation’s initiative offers a poetic alternative- a lasting living gift to the ‘Planet Earth’ that fights global warming in the name of sportsmanship. Mee Tree (Madhuca Longifolia) is deeply revered in Sri Lanka for its massive canopy, medicinal properties and unparalleled capacity for carbon sequestration- making it a fitting symbol for the enduring legacy of the Spanish Champions.
Nature Mimics Football Masterclass
In a dramatic twist worthy of a World Cup final, the day itself seemed blessed by a bit of football magic. After torrential rains threatened to wash out the ceremony, the skies miraculously cleared just in time for the open-air opening ceremony, which featured a traditional oil lamp lighting and powerful scientific speeches dedicated to climate change by environmentalists. “Our goal is to tie the environmental mission to the global spirit of football excellence” noted the organisors.
As the event concluded, the guests, local dignitaries and campus academic staff took turns digging into the soil, cementing a permanent bond between Spanish sports history and Sri Lankan biodiversity. Decades from now, when these saplings grow into a towering forest bordering a football pitch, the players will run under the shade of a canopy grown in honour of Spain’s greatest football heroes, all thanks to the- Green Through Football.
A Vision for the 2030 FIFA World Cup
However this is only the beginning of the Spanish football legacy in Sri Lanka. Discussions are already underway to expand this green blueprint by planting 2700 more trees – allocating 100 trees for every Spanish world cup hero and the head coach. This will create 27 mini forests in a dedicated semi forest area, with each ecosystem proudly named after a world cup player.
Though AdeZ Foundation introduced the concept of ‘Green Through Football’, the vision belongs to every football fan worldwide. Foundation earnestly hopes that the Green Through Football movement will take root in all football loving countries- especially across Europe- before the next FIFA world cup tournament in 2030.
With part of Europe currently enduring severe heatwaves, the call to action against climate change and global warming has never been more urgent. By acting now, football fans can ensure that future host nations like Spain, Portugal and Morocco enjoy a healthier, more sustainable environment for the 2030 world cup. Ultimately, safeguarding the beautiful game of football starts with doing something tangible for the betterment of the nature and environment.
If we put it in a different way, there are more than 250 million play football irrespective of their age. If everyone plants a tree per year, we will give 250 million trees to the nature to fight against the climate change to save the planet. Global warming has come to stay - act now for the sake of the future generation and also for the beautiful game of football.
To bring this mission to life, AdeZ Foundation warmly invite the people of Spain, Spanish Football Clubs, Green Organisations and fans worldwide to join hands with us. This is an open invitation for the people of Spain to actively participate in creating 27 mini forests in Sri Lanka. By uniting under the banner of Green Through Football, we can bridge our two nations, celebrate the enduring legacy of La Roja, and take immediate, tangible action against global warming. Let us plant the seeds today for a cooler, greener planet tomorrow.
We request you, your organization or your community group in Spain to join AdeZ Foundation
About Us (AdeZ Foundation)
For Fund transfer Account Details
Name of the Bank:
Hatton National Bank PLC
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Account Number:
0030 2047 5360
Foreign Currency-USD
Account Name:
ADEZ
Swift Code:
HBLILKLX
Phone: (94) 777 138 460
Email: [email protected]
Hatton National Bank PLC
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Account Number:
0030 2047 5360
Foreign Currency-USD
Account Name:
ADEZ
Swift Code:
HBLILKLX
Phone: (94) 777 138 460
Email: [email protected]