La Liga players, musicians pitch in for charity festival

The Spanish Football League (La Liga) is preparing to host the "LaLigaSantander Fest", a worldwide musical charity festival featuring 20 music stars and 20 players from the league－including Chinese footballer Wu Lei and pianist, Lang Lang.

The festival will take place on Saturday night in Spain from the respective homes of all of those involved, and will be the first global charity festival aimed at raising money to buy medical supplies to combat the pandemic, while also lifting the spirits of quarantined football fans.

As well as virtuoso piano player Lang Lang, artists taking part include Spanish musicians, Alejandro Sanz and David Bisbal, among others.

Lang says that Spain has always embraced his music."I am especially excited to participate in this La Liga initiative, which I hope will help to overcome these difficult times," he said.

"Despite the situation, this has brought us together, regardless of who each of us is, something that, in a more positive way, sports and music can also achieve.", Lang said.

They will be joined by 20 players drawn from the clubs that compete in La Liga's Primera Division, including Wu, who plays for top flight outfit, RCD Espanyol.

Wu, who last week was confirmed to be infected with COVID-19, wanted to participate.

"It's a great pleasure for me to take part in this special concert." Wu said,"When Chinese people were fighting against the COVID-19 epidemic, La Liga and Spanish clubs including RCD Espanyol offered great support to China through various means.

"So, I'm delighted to be involved in this charity festival launched by La Liga, so as to give my support to Spanish people in the fight against epidemic. I hope everyone can unite and we will be sure to get through this together," he said.

The event is organized by La Liga, in collaboration with Banco Santander, Universal Music and its sponsors, as well as the players, clubs and artists.

According to Oscar Mayo, director of Business, Marketing and International Development at La Liga, the league wants to support everyone who is in quarantine and at the same time, raise money to buy medical supplies to deal with COVID-19.

"We are very happy with the response we have received from all fronts; footballers, clubs, artists and sponsors have all joined together for this initiative. I am convinced that together we are going to create something very memorable," he said.

The music festival will be broadcast simultaneously through all La Liga channels and online platforms－as well as any international broadcaster who wishes to do so－airing around 1 am on Sunday morning in Beijing.

All funds raised will go toward the purchase of medical supplies in a coordinated effort with health authorities and Spain's National Sports Council.

This festival is part of the "La Liga se juegaen casa" (La Liga's being played at home) campaign, which seeks to support fans throughout this period of quarantine, making it more bearable and raising awareness about the importance of staying at home to halt the spread of COVID-19.