Abbott and Real Madrid Team Up to Support the Health and Nutrition of Children Globally

• Abbott becomes Health Sciences and Nutrition Partner of Real Madrid Football Club and Global Partner of the Real Madrid Foundation
• Partnership will include support of the first men’s and women’s and Academy football teams as well as support of the Real Madrid Foundation
• Foundation supports 65,000 children per year across 80 countries through education in sportsmanship, teamwork, respect, and health and nutrition
• Partnership supports Abbott’s commitment to address global malnutrition over the next decade

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ABBOTT PARK, Ill., and MADRID, Spain, Oct. 19, 2021 (GNI): Abbott today announced it has entered into a three-year agreement to be the Health Sciences and Nutrition Partner of the Real Madrid Football Club and Global Partner of the Real Madrid Foundation—an organization founded by the club to promote the values inherent in sport to children globally.  The partnership will encompass education, sports and social welfare activities in support of at-risk children in 80 countries, as well as nutritional support for the first men’s and women’s and Academy teams and new product innovation and development.

Real Madrid is one of the most successful and recognized sports clubs in the world and is supported by more than 600 million fans globally. In 1997 the club launched the Real Madrid Foundation to support social and cultural integration for at-risk children around the world through sport, through teaching values such as teamwork, respect, collaboration—and physical fitness.

“Malnutrition remains a concern amongst Indian children, more so since its consequent health effects often plague them lifelong,” said Swati Dalal, general manager, Abbott’s nutrition business, India. “Abbott and The Real Madrid Foundation share the same goal which is to nourish children around the world as we move towards a better, healthier future. Football is a universally loved sport which encourages healthy lifestyle habits and with this collaboration, we hope to secure wider reach and create long-lasting impact in the lives of children through our collective efforts and resources.”

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Working with local partners, the Real Madrid Foundation identifies and brings together local children in key at-risk areas—usually in remote, rural communities. The schools cover many different activities, ranging from healthy snacks and dental hygiene, to after school programs that involve health education and sports training. Each program includes a local social or environmental activity, such as healthcare facility visits. The children are screened for key health indicators at the beginning of each program and supported nutritionally throughout. The Real Madrid Foundation also runs week-long clinics for children who wish to improve their game with the Real Madrid methodology.

“Through the work of the Real Madrid Foundation, we’re not looking to develop the next footballer, we’re looking to grow the next engineer, scientist or lawyer,” said Emilio Butragueño, director of institutional relations for Real Madrid. “By teaming up with Abbott, a global leader and expert in nutrition, we can support children around the world in living healthier overall.”

A Focus on Malnutrition

Malnutrition affects 1 in 3 people of all ages, all geographies and all socioeconomic classes. More than half of all children affected by wasting globally, live in Southern Asia,[i]  and stunting or chronic malnutrition (low height with respect to age) has increased in 11 of 17 states in India.[ii] The proportion of severely wasted children has increased in 13 of 17 states while proportion of children who are underweight (low weight with respect to age) has increased in 11 of 17 states.

Abbott has long been focused on improving nutrition through our innovations, recently announcing the formation of the Abbott Center for Malnutrition Solutions—a hub of Abbott and external nutrition experts and partners with a goal to reduce malnutrition in every region of the world over the next ten years. With this partnership, the first under the center, Abbott will work with the Real Madrid Foundation Social Sports Schools around the world to support at-risk children in their goal of having access to a healthier life and a better future.

This work will contribute to Abbott’s 2030 Sustainability Plan ambition to transform care for malnutrition, chronic disease and infectious diseases, with a goal to improve the lives of more than 3 billion people by decade’s end. 

The partnership will run through the end of the 2023-2024 soccer season and will encompass working with Real Madrid Foundation Social Sports Schools in twelve countries to provide malnutrition screening, education and nutrition support, while also supporting nutritional needs for the Real Madrid Foundation clinics, which take place in 42 countries.  As the Health Sciences and Nutrition Partner, Abbott will also work closely with the club to drive research into new ingredient and product innovation and development as part of the nutritional support for the Real Madrid first men’s, women’s and Academy teams, stated in the press release.ends