SPORT HOMELESS WORLD CUP
When football really is a matter of life and death
Te Homeless World Cup tournament director has been on some challenging journeys, but none more than those endured by the players
BY WILLIAM PEAKIN A
s a foundation for a career in events man- agement, a degree in archaeology would not spring immediately to
mind. For James McMeekin, how- ever, there are parallels; challenging deadlines, tight budgets, multiple stakeholders. McMeekin is tourna- ment director for the Homeless World Cup, which this year is being held in Glasgow, in George Square. Organising any sporting event
is a challenge, but organising one with participants who have endured their own challenges just to be there, hosted in countries whose authorities do not always empathise with the homeless, and depending on ever-shifting groups of volunteers for its staging; that is a challenge. In McMeekin’s case, the word
‘endured’ is perhaps a better clue to his propensity for events manage- ment. With seven years of archaeol- ogy in the UK and Europe under his belt, a friend asked him to take part in the London Marathon. When he found it not as difficult as he imagined, he looked for another challenge. How about the Marathon des Sables? A “gruelling multi-stage adven-
ture through a formidable land- scape in one of the world’s most inhospitable climates - the Sahara desert,” as the official website de- scribes the 156-mile trek across sand in temperatures reaching 100 degrees Fahrenheit. A run through the Alps? Why not. Or a run to Lon- don? Where from, I ask McMeekin: “From Edinburgh,” he says. Right. As well as raising money for char- ity – the latter run was for children
n TOBY MCKILLOP TEAM SCOTLAND 2014
After two decades struggling with drug addiction, estrangement from his family, and more than a year being homeless, Toby used football to find his way again. When he was 38, Toby was homeless for 14 months. He reached absolute bottom when, having lost everything, he decided to end it all and hang himself. Thankfully, he was stopped by the thought of
with leukaemia – these experiences taught him to keep any challenges that might arise in perspective. Tey also spurred him to organise endurance events himself - and eight years ago Resolute Events was born, known today for the Glasgow- Edinburgh ‘ultra-marathon’. Ten, through a friend-of-a-friend a few times removed, McMeekin was asked if he would like to run the Homeless World Cup.
GLASGOW WILL BE his sixth; be- ginning with Paris in 2011, through
20 | EVENTSBASE | MARCH 2016
leaving Molly, his then five year-old daughter, without a father. It was time to get help. After a struggle to find funding for treatment, Toby finally secured a place at a rehabilitation centre in Glasgow. After a near-fatal relapse, he began attending the rehabilitation centre once more where he connected with Street Soccer Scotland, the Homeless World Cup national
Mexico City, Poznan, Santiago and, last year, Amsterdam. McMeekin and the team work on a three-year cycle; concurrently wrapping up one tour-
“IT IS CHALLENGING, FRUSTRATING AND REWARDING – ALL AT THE SAME TIME”
James McMeekin, tournament director, Homeless World Cup
More than 500 players, representing 51 countries, will gather to celebrate the year-round life changing work of the Homeless World Cup national partner network
partner. “Thanks to the Homeless World Cup, I am only half through my life, and Molly and I have so much more to do,” he said.
nament, working on the next and in the bid process with the third. A lot of time is spent travelling, meeting local and national partners. For McMeekin, who is 37 and
lives in Edinburgh, Glasgow rep- resents a moment of transition; he would welcome still being involved, perhaps as a consultant or project manager, but at the same time he is keen to develop the company he founded. Right now, though, he is fully focused on the delivery
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