Colombian superstar Shakira appeared at the University of Miami Monday afternoon to announce a partnership between her charitable foundation and that of soccer superpower FC Barcelona, who play an exhibition match in Miami on Wednesday.
Along with officials from the Spanish side, three Barcelona players appeared to promote the project -- including the other half of Shakira's much-buzzed-about relationship, center back Gerard Piqué.
Though the celebrity couple drew cheers inside and outside UM's fieldhouse, it was a major investment in YMCA educational programs for the local Hispanic community that brought the pair in front of cameras.
“Hispanics in the United States have everything to gain," Shakira told the crowd before receiving a Barcelona jersey with the name of her foundation on the back. "We have the talent, we have the will," she said. "I truly think that with more education and more sports, we can achieve the unthinkable. We can have the ball on our side of the court and play the best of moves.”
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez, Commissioner Steve Bovo, FC Barcelona Foundation vice-president Ramon Pont and YMCA of Greater Miami Board Chairman Brian Mormille were all on hand to promote the coming program that will benefit local youth, though details were not entirely revealed.
FC Barcelona play Mexica club Chivas de Guadalajara at Sun Life Stadium on Wednesday, with more than 60,000 tickets already sold.
Shakira and Piqué are reported to have met at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, where she performed the theme song "Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)", and he won the whole shebang as a member of the Spanish national team.