Wow. A single rugby match between a team of all-stars from the southern hemisphere against a team from the northern hemisphere raised about $3.5–million (U.S.) for tsunami relief efforts, the United Nations said a few minutes ago.
It’s the single largest donation the UN has ever received from a sporting event.
More than 40,000 people saw the match, played March 5 at Twickenham, England, while millions more saw it live on television in more than a dozen countries across the world. Ticket sales, hospitality and donations received through telephone hotlines, online mechanisms and mobile phone texting agreements helped to account for the final sum raised.
The southern hemisphere squad won.