Meeting between Rosell and Gates in Madrid

The FC Barcelona President met with Bill Gates this Tuesday with a view to strengthening relations in the fight against polio.

Sandro Rosell and Bill Gates held a private meeting, on Tuesday, in Madrid, just before a dinner where Bill Gates invited various members of society, in the context of a visit to transmit to the heads of State public institutions the importance of maintaining aid for cooperation, even in times of crisis.

In this regard, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and UNICEF Spain have made public a survey where poverty and inequality between rich and poor countries are considered by the public to be the most important worldwide problems.

Rosell, who also attended the dinner hosted by Gates on Tuesday in Madrid, was able to strengthen ties with the philanthropist, and comment on progress in eradicating polio in the world, a struggle in which the Club is particularly involved, as a result of the agreement signed between the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the FC Barcelona Foundation in July 2011.

There is very good news in relation to the total elimination of this disease. In fact, last January 13th it was one year since the detection of the last case of polio in India. Twelve months without the disease, which, although not assuming total eradication, is a very good sign in terms of achieving that goal.

Under the slogan 'More than a Goal. End Polio', FC Barcelona has been helping the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, with its media power and global recognition, to facilitate the development of programs and news related to this disease. In fact, on 24th of October, World Polio Day, the two foundations produced a video to raise awareness of the disease, involving, in addition to Rosell and Gates, the first team manager, Pep Guardiola. (via FCBarcelona.com)