By Mark Baber
April 3 – US Soccer yesterday kicked off its Centennial Week by ringing the New York Stock Exchange Closing Bell, with commemoration events planned for the rest of the week including the 2013 National Soccer Hall of Fame Induction Class, soccer in New York’s Times Square and a Women’s National Team Watch Party on Friday.
This week’s events will be celebrating the sport’s growth in the past two decades culminating on April 5, the date the U.S. Soccer charter was signed in New York back in 1913.
U.S. Soccer sees its mission as to make soccer, in all its forms, a pre-eminent sport in the United States and to continue the development of soccer at all recreational and competitive levels.
The candidates for today’s 2013 Induction Class in the Player, Veteran and Builder categories include Chris Armas, Marco Etcheverry, Shannon MacMillan, Joe-Max Moore and Cindy Parlow.
On Thursday, at an event in Times Square, fans will be able to play soccer on a small pitch; make a pledge to the future of U.S. Soccer; take pictures with the 1991 and 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup trophies; and chat with U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati and U.S. Men’s national team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann among others.
On Friday there will be a joint press conference with a representative of Mayor Bloomberg, a lighting up of the Empire State Building and finally a Watch Party for the U.S. Women’s National Team match against Germany at Nevada Smiths sports bar in New York.
U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati said, “The Centennial has allowed us to share stories about people, events and moments that have truly contributed to U.S. Soccer’s success through these first 100 years. Celebrating in New York City – where 100 years ago a group of visionaries came together to pave the way for soccer in the United States – is truly merging our past with the present, while demonstrating a 100% commitment to the future of the game and our organization in the U.S. We hope that our membership, fans and supporters take a moment during the week to reflect on the first 100 years of U.S. Soccer and imagine all the things we can accomplish in the next 100 years.”
As part of the celebrations the U.S. Men’s National Team has been sporting vintage jerseys produced by Nike and inspired by U.S. Soccer’s original 1913 design.
The celebrations continue on June 2 when the U.S. Men will play Germany and Women will play Canada in back-to-back matches live on ESPN.
All these events can be followed on Twitter via @ussoccer and by using the hashtag #100Years.
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