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Infantino: Football will play a central role in bringing communities together

Published

5 years ago

April 7, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

FIFA has recently built alliances with a number of United Nations agencies for the realisation of social development objectives

On 6 April, the United Nations celebrates the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, (https://bit.ly/323SQ4t) recognising the role that sport and physical activity plays in communities and in people’s lives across the world.

The occasion holds special resonance this year as the world seeks to recover from the devastation wreaked by the COVID-19 pandemic, with sport sure to play a crucial role in that effort.

To mark this important date in the calendar, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has written the following article in the UN Chronicle in which he details how FIFA and its many programmes remain “at the service of society” in this time of global need.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented time of distress and loss for the whole world. Foremost is the tragic loss of loved ones that so many have suffered. We have also largely lost our social lives and human interaction, including everyday activities such as participating in, or attending, a football match.

But there is light at the end of the tunnel, and with the roll-out of vaccines, we hope life will return as it is meant to be lived: together, without the barriers and constraints imposed by the pandemic.

As it has done before, football, the most popular sport in the world, will play a central role in bringing communities together. Through football, we will be able to get back in shape physically, socialise with our teammates and rivals, and fill stadiums again. We will regain some of what was lost in the past year and hopefully bring back joy and smiles.

We also have a unique opportunity for a fresh start. Football can be a powerful tool for action on many pressing global issues, including several of the most important United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as those related to health and well-being (SDG 3), quality education (SDG 4), gender equality (SDG 5), peace and conflict resolution (SDG 16).

Football and the sport’s governing institution, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), have an unparalleled global reach. The 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia was watched by more than half the world’s population, and the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019 was seen by over 1 billion people. Such wide visibility provides our sport with a unique platform to promote the universal values of fair-play, inclusion, solidarity, diversity and teamwork, all critical to achieving the SDGs.

We are equally fortunate to be able to call on football stars – the FIFA Legends – who are living examples of those values. They generously use their own platforms to spread messages about important social issues and help us reach a much wider audience, beyond football fans.

Sports organisations themselves have their role to play and should lead by example by engaging in partnerships to contribute to the international development agenda. FIFA has recently built alliances with a number of United Nations agencies—notably with the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), UN-Women, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the World Food Programme (WFP)—for the realisation of social development objectives, including promoting healthy lifestyles, crime prevention, sports integrity, youth development, gender equality and women’s empowerment, as well as education.

Education is indeed central to our global efforts to create a better world. Thanks to the Football for Schools Programme, we are investing $120 million in the education, through football, of the world’s young people to help them develop key life skills. Delayed because of the pandemic, the Programme is expected to start operations fully in 2021, when it can also help address disruptions in education caused by COVID-19, especially in some of the most affected regions of the world.

FIFA is also leading the way to create safer sporting environments, putting in place safeguarding measures to protect children through the FIFA Guardians programme, which aims to professionalize the role of safeguarding officers in football.

Since we must work together with state and local authorities in this area we have entered into a memorandum of understanding signed last year with UNODC, aimed at potentially establishing an independent, multi-sport, multi-agency, international entity with the authority and experience to assist international sports and ensure that we work together with law enforcement agencies and governments to eradicate any form of abuse and investigate cases as appropriate.

As we continue to fight back against COVID-19 and its effects, we do so with the aim of not just helping football—as we have with an unprecedented support package of $1.5 billion for the game’s organisers around the world through the FIFA COVID-19 Relief Plan (https://fifa.fans/39NYP1j) – but also society as a whole. From the moment the pandemic was declared, we, in collaboration with WHO, have contributed to vital public health messaging to promote safe hygiene practices aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19. We continue to collaborate closely with WHO and amplify messages that support good health and save lives.

Football and society have a symbiotic relationship: what is good for society is good for football and vice versa. On this International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (6 April 2021) (https://bit.ly/323SQ4t), FIFA is at the service of society, and we will continue to play any role we can in supporting the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

David Mann Chief Commercial Officer at Swintt

Swintt bring players four times the fun in Lucky Fortune Door Wild

Published

3 hours ago

November 6, 2025

George Miller

swintt-bring-players-four-times-the-fun-in-lucky-fortune-door-wild

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Sought-after software provider’s enhanced Premium release sees players step into the glow of the Far East as wild symbols and Quadspins combine for huge rewards

With Swintt having already opened the way to a world of wonder in the original Lucky Fortune Door, this month the award-winning software provider is back in action again with Lucky Fortune Door Wild – an exciting reboot that gives players even more ways to win!

Like its SwinttPremium predecessor, Lucky Fortune Door Wild is a five-reel slot that can be played with either five or ten paylines. Boasting an engaging Far East theme, the slot combines dragons, yin and yang pendants and coins with new golden ingot wilds that substitute for all other symbols.

The good news for fans of the original game is that the slot’s signature Quadspin mechanic again makes a welcome return. Activated whenever a win of at least 4x the bet is triggered, players will have the choice to either claim their current prize or gamble a portion of it to activate Quadspins.

Should they decide for the latter option, the gameboard will be divided into four separate reel sets to potentially quadruple the prizes on offer – and of course, with substitute wilds now also in play, the chances of players landing the slot’s maximum 6,000x win multiplier will be greatly increased.

As a further incentive, during Quadspins, an extra mystery symbol is also added to the reels. Should any instances of this icon appear on any of the four reel sets, they will be replaced by a random matching symbol to create additional payline wins and generate potentially huge prizes.

On top of this, should players continue to land wins of 4x their bet or greater during Quadspins, they can elect to remain in the feature for longer. With a maximum of 50 Quadspin available per set, the odds of them embarking on a prolonged winning streak are, therefore, much more likely.

To cap it off, all wins in Lucky Fortune Door Wild are paid from both left-to-right and right-to-left, meaning that no matter how aggressively players choose to play, fortune is only ever a spin away.

David Mann, Chief Commercial Officer at Swintt, said: “With Swintt’s signature Quadspin mechanic proving a hugely popular addition to our Premium line-up, we’re delighted to be giving the feature another outing in Lucky Fortune Door Wild. Offering the same great gameplay as the original release but now with added wilds, it’s sure to be a big hit with players and operators alike.”

The post Swintt bring players four times the fun in Lucky Fortune Door Wild appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

18Peaches

18Peaches’ Squid Gold X2 plunges players into a mystical treasure hunt

Published

5 hours ago

November 6, 2025

George Miller

18peaches’-squid-gold-x2-plunges-players-into-a-mystical-treasure-hunt

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Squid Gold X2 by 18Peaches invites players to dive deep into a world of mystery, magic and forgotten riches. Set within a sacred castle filled with ancient relics and hidden chambers, every spin feels like a step deeper into the unknown. The legendary golden squid is said to guard untold fortunes, and only the bravest adventurers will uncover its secrets.

The journey plays out across a 5×5 grid with 50 paylines, where expanding reels can unlock up to 100 paylines for even greater rewards.

With enchanting artifacts, secret rooms, and the electrifying Squid 500 feature, no spin ever feels ordinary. Add in Free Spins, Wild expansions and instant bonus access via Buy Bonus, and Squid Gold X2 becomes a pulse-raising treasure hunt built for thrill-seekers.

“With Squid Gold X2, our goal was to create a journey where every spin feels like a step closer to unlocking a forgotten legend,” says 18Peaches Chief Strategy Officer Arsen Tadevosyan. “We designed mechanics like Squid 500 and the X2 expanding reels to build momentum, each trigger feels like a gate opening, both visually and emotionally. It’s that feeling of chasing something mythical, where every feature builds anticipation and drives you deeper into the experience.”

“When reels expand, paylines double, and the chamber glows with energy, players feel the story unfolding through mechanics. That flow, the rise in tension, the surge of possibility, is what makes Squid Gold X2 such a captivating adventure.”

As with all 18Peaches’ releases, Squid Gold X2 is bursting with features that keep every moment alive. The highlight is the legendary Squid 500 mechanic.

Whenever a Wild lands and expands, it triggers the sacred Golden Gate, unlocking hidden energy within the castle walls. As the gate opens, the power of the golden squid surges through the reels, doubling your paylines and dramatically boosting winning potential.

There’s also our X2 Mechanic. During bonus rounds, when the Golden Gate rises it reveals additional rows, expanding the grid and transforming 50 paylines into a breathtaking 100-line battlefield of rewards.

Squid Gold X2 is the latest addition to 18Peaches’ fast-growing catalogue of hit titles that continue to resonate with modern players. Recent successes such as Leprechaun Jackpot Collector, Monster Load-Up Hold & Win, and the high-adrenaline Hacker Crash Jackpot have firmly established the studio as a creator of distinctive, high-engagement experiences.

As with all 18Peaches titles, Squid Gold X2 is built for effortless market deployment. The platform supports Sweepstakes and Free Rounds via API, enabling operators to easily tailor promotional strategies across diverse regulatory environments.

The post 18Peaches’ Squid Gold X2 plunges players into a mystical treasure hunt appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Booming Games

Booming Games Takes Players Sky-High with Thunder Eagle Hold and Win Extreme 10,000

Published

5 hours ago

November 6, 2025

George Miller

booming-games-takes-players-sky-high-with-thunder-eagle-hold-and-win-extreme-10,000

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Take to the skies and soar like an eagle, then swoop in and grab big wins by spinning the reels of Thunder Eagle Hold and Win Extreme from Booming Games. This action-packed, feature-filled slot is a wild adventure with a chance to win up to 10,000x.

Thunder Eagle Hold and Win Extreme is a 5×3, 25-fixed payline slot. The winning fun takes off when multiplier prize symbols land in the base game for a chance to trigger the Eagle Bonus feature that awards a spin on the Bonus Wheel, which can award Multiplier prize collect, Mini, Minor or Major Prize Pots or even an instant Hold and Win Extreme Bonus.

Hold and Win Extreme features four 3×5 grids and 3 Respins. Land multiplier prize symbols to unlock the other grids. Completing a grid will award a x2 Win Multiplier to all symbols or landing all 60 positions to complete all found grids award the majestic Grand Prize Pot worth 10,000x!

Play Thunder Eagle Hold and Win Extreme and fly to new heights!

Craig Asling, Director at Booming Games, said: “With Thunder Eagle Hold and Win Extreme, we wanted to take our popular Hold and Win format to new heights, both literally and figuratively. This game delivers an exhilarating experience with powerful visuals, immersive gameplay and incredible win potential up to 10,000x. It’s a perfect example of how Booming Games continues to innovate while keeping players fully engaged.”

The post Booming Games Takes Players Sky-High with Thunder Eagle Hold and Win Extreme 10,000 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.