On May 15, 2003 the international football icon Pelé was appointed Hans Christian Andersen Ambassador in connection with the bicentennial of the famous fairy tale writer i 2005.

Pelé accepted the title from HRH Crown Prince Frederik at a ceremony at the City Hall of Copenhagen. Pelé said he was honoured to be able to represent Hans Christian Andersen because the two of them share the same philosophy of life, children, and the future in general.

As Ambassador for Hans Christian Andersen Pelé is to use his name in the celebration of Andersen's bicentennial in 2005 in order to profile the event worldwide as much as possible.