BURNABY - Minister of State for ActNow BC, Gordon Hogg used the world's largest and most inclusive pick-up soccer event as the playing field on which to proclaim June 8th - July 11th Soccer Month in British Columbia.

"Every move is a good move, and soccer is a wonderful simple, way to have fun. Sport can really make a difference in achieving our goal of making British Columbia the healthiest region ever to host an Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games," said Hogg.

As part of Soccer Month, the Kickin' Day of Play is a provincewide game of pick-up soccer set up by ActNow BC and the BC Soccer Association to try and set a world record for the largest game of pick-up soccer.

"A provincewide soccer game is a great way to highlight our commitment to keeping sport an integral part of our communities," said Stan Hagen, Minister of Tourism, Sport and the Arts. "With events like the Kickin'
Day of Play and the FIFA U20 World Cup games being played in Burnaby and
Victoria in early July, we are sure to make this inaugural Soccer Month a great success."

Today at noon, people from all over the province left their desks and headed to the closest field or gym to take part in a provincewide explosion of energy. Students, colleagues, friends and family grabbed a
ball and spent at least 15 minutes kicking it around - all in the name of health, good spirit and world-wide recognition.

"This is a perfect opportunity for sponsors and participants to show the world that we are on the ball! We have incredible players, lots of
enthusiasm and we are going to continue to make soccer and Soccer Month a success, year after year." said BCSA president, Steve Reed.

Many groups got out and kicked the ball around, including the Canadian Cancer Society, College of the Rockies, the University of Victoria, Pacific Sport Staff, the City of Port Moody, the City of Langley, the
City of Hope and many other communities and schools from around the province.

For more information visit: www.provinceofsoccer.com.