Liverpool’s UCL parade among stunning images in 2020 Photo of the Year awards

This week the World Press Photo Foundation announced the winners of its 2020 Photo of the Year awards, with an iconic image of Liverpool among those honoured in the sport category.

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A fantastic picture captured by photographer Oli Scarff during the Reds’ Champions League victory parade on June 2, 2019, won third prize among the best single sporting images of the year.

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A trophy-shaped balloon floats over the crowd in Liverpool, England, as football fans line the streets on 2 June during the open-top bus parade celebrating Liverpool’s win against Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Champions League final. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ‘Liverpool Champions League Victory Parade’ by Oli Scarff (@oliscarff), United Kingdom. One of three nominees in the ‘Sports, singles’ category of the 2020 World Press Photo Contest, capturing individual or team sports. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Some 750,000 fans turned out for the parade, according to Merseyside Police. The 2-0 win at the Metropolitano Stadium, Madrid, Spain, the day before, delivered the first trophy for Liverpool since winning the English Football League Cup in 2012, and the first win in seven finals for coach Jürgen Klopp. Liverpool last won the UEFA Champions League in 2005. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ – ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The 2020 Photo Contest & 2020 Digital Storytelling Contest nominees have been announced! We’re sharing the nominated photos, selected from 73,996 images by 4,282 photographers from 125 countries, in alphabetical order. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Discover the stories that matter, chosen by an independent jury of photography and digital storytelling professionals by following the link in our bio. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The winners will be announced at the Awards Show in Amsterdam on 16 April. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #WPPh2020 #worldpressphoto

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The chaotic scenes feature a trophy-shaped balloon sailing through the air as thousands of fans line the streets of Liverpool to herald their conquering heroes the day after they won the final against Tottenham Hotspur in Madrid.

Merseyside Police reported that somewhere in the region of 750,000 supporters turned out to cheer the parade through the city, with Scarff’s brilliant image capturing the hazy red maelstrom perfectly.

– Marcotti: Kings of Europe, Liverpool’s journey far from over

Football was well represented in the sport section, with Silvia Izquierdo’s image of Flamengo fans winning second prize among single images. The photo was taken Nov. 23 at the precise moment Gabriel Barbosa scored to seal the Brazilian club’s comeback win over River Plate in the Copa Libertadores final.

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Fans of Brazil’s Flamengo football team cheer as Gabriel Barbosa scores a goal against defending champions River Plate of Argentina, in the final of the Copa Libertadores, broadcast on a giant screen during a watch party at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 23 November 2019. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ‘Chearing the Goal’ by Silvia Izquierdo (@sizki), Peru. One of three nominees in the ‘Sports, singles’ category of the 2020 World Press Photo Contest, capturing individual or team sports. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Barbosa scored two goals in the final few minutes, effecting a comeback for Flamengo who won the match 2-1 after being 0-1 down for much of the game. This was the first time that Flamengo had won the Copa Libertadores—South American club football’s highest-level competition—in 38 years. The boy’s painted beard is possibly in homage to his hero Barbosa. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ – ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The 2020 Photo Contest & 2020 Digital Storytelling Contest nominees have been announced! We’re sharing the nominated photos, selected from 73,996 images by 4,282 photographers from 125 countries, in alphabetical order. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Discover the stories that matter, chosen by an independent jury of photography and digital storytelling professionals by following the link in our bio. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The winners will be announced at the Awards Show in Amsterdam on 16 April. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #WPPh2020 #worldpressphoto

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After his side fell behind, Barbosa scored twice in the final few minutes, leading to a 2-1 win and duly clinching Flamengo their first ever Libertadores title. The boy in the photo has painted a beard onto his face, which may well be in homage to his idol “Gabigol.”

– Vickery: ‘Gabigol’ heroics, River Plate blunders decide Copa final

Belgian photographer Olivier Papegnies was also acclaimed for his series of images of a women’s football team in northern Benin, which won second prize in the stories section. The Gazelles de Gouande hail from the village of Gouande and are one of many teams set up across the African nation with the aim of giving young women more control over their futures through sport.

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The Gazelles de Gouandé from Gouandé village in northern Benin is one of 16 football teams set up across the country with the aim of giving young women more control over their futures through sport. The project, established by the Plan International organization, aims to empower women by promoting self-confidence, widening educational opportunities, and through advocacy against early marriage. Following the 2019 Women’s World Cup, there was an international surge of interest in women’s football, and projects like the one in Benin can be seen as part of a wider view of the power of sport to unify and spread social awareness. In January 2019, Benin hosted a delegation from FIFA, football’s international governing body, aimed at supporting a new sports strategy in schools, and Beninese president Patrice Talon announced plans for four new football schools, including one for women. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ‘The Gouandé Gazelles’ by Olivier Papegnies (@olivierpapegnies), Belgium. One of three nominees in the ‘Sports, stories’ category of the 2020 World Press Photo Contest, capturing individual or team sports. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ – ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The 2020 Photo Contest & 2020 Digital Storytelling Contest nominees have been announced! We’re sharing the nominated photos, selected from 73,996 images by 4,282 photographers from 125 countries, in alphabetical order. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Discover the stories that matter, chosen by an independent jury of photography and digital storytelling professionals by following the link in our bio. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The winners will be announced at the Awards Show in Amsterdam on 16 April. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #WPPh2020 #worldpressphoto

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The images show the Gazelles living, working, training and playing while going about their daily lives in the town, seemingly taking their footballs with them wherever they go.

The project, established by the Plan International organisation, aims to empower women by promoting self-confidence, education and greater social freedom.

However, none of this year’s football-themed crop could take top honours and emulate Stanislav Tereba. In 1959, the Czech photographer won the overall prize of World Press Photo of the Year for his image of Sparta Prague goalkeeper Miroslav Ctvrtnicek preparing to take a goal kick in the pouring rain.

Pure football poetry.

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