How Kia Offered the Official Match Ball Carrier a Once in a Lifetime Europa League Experience

The UEFA Europa League final looked a little different this year. Health guidelines forced the match to be played behind closed doors, but that did not stop Kia from offering one young fan an experience at the final that they would never forget.

Kia Motors came up with the idea of enabling one lucky supporter the chance to be the Official Match Ball Carrier for the 2020 final, but the Covid-19 pandemic put a stop to those plans, so Kia came up with a way to make the once-in-a-lifetime experience completely virtual.

By using the latest technology, Kia gave one child a unique experience by enabling them to carry the match ball on to the pitch in a virtual stadium by using a VR headset from the safety of their own home.

The lucky child was 10-year-old Justus, who lives in Rietberg and suffers from Asperger and Tourette syndrome. In keeping with Kia’s commitment to empowering fans during unprecedented circumstances, Justus was selected by the Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk charity in cooperation with Kia Motors Deutschland GmbH to join in the celebrations as much as possible.

Not only was Justus given the chance to meet the players and match officials via video call as they arrived at the stadium, but Kia also arranged for German legend Michael Ballack to accompany Justus virtually throughout the event.

Ballack helped Justus set up his technology and was the man to inform him of what was in store for the special occasion.

“It was an honour to help Justus become the first ever Virtual Official Match Ball Carrier for the UEFA Europa League Final,” said Ballack. “Watching him virtually carry the match ball and say hello to the players and match officials was amazing and reminded me of what it’s like to be a young football fan.

“I didn’t think it would be possible to have this experience in the Final, but I’m so happy that we found a way to make it happen.”

Kia Motors’ sponsorship of the UEFA Europa League, which is now in its second season, stayed true to its mission statement of empowering fans, despite the disruption of Covid-19.

“Four months ago there was huge uncertainty over whether it would be possible to finish the 2019/20 UEFA Europa League campaign due to Covid-19,” said Artur Martins, Head of the Global Customer Experience Division at Kia Motors Corporation. “Fast forward to now and not only has the Final been played, but we made one child’s dream come true by introducing the first Virtual Official Match Ball Carrier. I feel very proud that we were able to make the impossible, possible, and I hope that Justus feels empowered by the experience.

"Thank you to everyone who had a part to play.”