FRANCE 98 – Press Release Template

Paris, 28 November 1997

Music for the World Cup!

During the ceremony for the World Cup final group draw in Marseille on December 4, the 38,000 spectators in the Stade Vélodrome and television viewers all round the world will be able to hear the world premières of the music for the 16th World Cup.

Firstly, the Official Anthem of the 16th World Cup, performed by its composer, the international star Youssou N’Dour, together with the singer Axelle Red. The anthem is sung in French and evokes the world in all its hues and colours. It takes up the FRANCE 98 slogan : “The beauty of a world at play” as its title.

“It is a great honour to have had my song chosen by the French Organising Committee to symbolise the World Cup,” says Youssou N’Dour, himself a fervent football fan and whose famous “Seven Seconds” has been a world-wide hit. He adds, “Music and sport have the same thing in common: bringing people together from all round the world.”

The other world première is the Official World Cup Song, chosen by Sony Music Entertainment Europe, and to be sung by Ricky Martin. The title of the song is also highly symbolic: “The Cup of Life.”