Football got a charitable note, putting Bilje of some 1,000 inhabitants on the Slovenian and European map, the event organizers said in a press release ahead of the event.

The three day event, which will close today, will be hosted by Bilje's locals Valter Birsa (FC Chievo) and Tim Matavž (FC Augsburg), who will be joined by many acclaimed guests.

Albert II, a great football fan, regularly appears at charity events, supporting environmental and humanitarian organisations.

The Primorske novice daily has recently reported that he has expressed a wish to attend the Bilje event after hearing about it from Bilje's match proponent Matjaž Nemec, who was invited to one of the prince's charities last year.

The prince's football team has played charity fixtures with a Formula One team for over 20 years, raising money for disadvantaged children around the world.

Besides Albert II and President Pahor, many internationally successful athletes are expected to attend today's event, including biathlon Olympic medallist Jakov Fak, LA Kings hockey star Anže Kopitar and hammer throwing Olympic champion Primož Kozmus.

In addition, a retired Croatian football star Zvonimir Boban, sailing champion Vasilij Žbogar, CSKA basketball player Matja Smodiš, acclaimed handball player Vid Kavtičnik and skiers Jure Košir and Rok Perko.

All the funds raised will go for medical equipment and supplies in the maternity hospital in nearby Šempeter pri Gorici and the department of disabled youth of the Nova Gorica general hospital.