Giggs appointed Unicef ambassador

Manchester United's Ryan Giggs has been appointed as an ambassador for the children's charity Unicef.

The Welsh international has spent six years working with the charity through the club's "United for Unicef" partnership.

He has recently returned from a trip to Soweto, South Africa, where he met young people affected by HIV as part of the Unicef Children and Aids campaign.

Mr Giggs said: "As a father, the future of my child is always on my mind."

He added: "To be asked to become a Unicef Ambassador, and to have the opportunity to help other children, who so desperately need it, is a great honour and one that I am proud to accept.

"HIV and Aids is having a devastating effect on children across the world, so through my position, I hope to help Unicef raise awareness about these important issues."

The player visited China with Manchester United last year where he met young girls from Sichuan Province who are part of a trafficking prevention programme funded by the club.

In 2003, he was among the players who met UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

He has also helped Unicef raise money by fronting several TV appeals during emergencies such as the Asian Tsunami disaster.

Giggs joins David Beckham and Angelina Jolie, who are also ambassadors for the international children's organisation.

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