A Youth Soccer Tournament visible from Outer Space kicks off in July
The first international youth soccer tournament in Beijing reveals details today.
The tournament, named The Great Wall Cup of Beijing will be hosted by the Beijing Municipal Sports Administration, and undertaken by the Beijing Football Association, the Olympic Sports Center and China Sports Tour. In the first year of the event, the committee will invite teams from all over the world, both boys and girls, in the age categories 14, 16, and 18, as well as eight local teams. The event is considered to be the first ever international youth soccer tournament of this scale to be held in Beijing. International clubs and teams are welcome to register now.
The current status of Chinese soccer teams is unusual, according to Sports Minister Mr. Liu Peng, who states, “The shortage of reserve talent is the key reason for its low level.” The government has already realized the problem and started to focus on youth development. Promoting the international youth soccer tournament is a way to give local youngsters opportunities to communicate and practice with international teams so they can improve their technique and social skills.
“Chinese young players have little chance to play against foreign teams,” says Mr. Yang Junsheng, the president of the Beijing Football Association, “That is the reason why we fully support this event. We hope this tournament can serve as a kind of festival for all young players who participate in it. We sincerely hope this event will also draw more public attention to youth soccer. The Great Wall Cup of Beijing is not only a platform for Chinese youngsters to learn and experience the most advanced soccer skills, but also a window to show Beijing and China to the young generation of the world. We sincerely hope that through the Great Wall Cup, not only can Chinese players learn from other teams, but also first time visitors can have the opportunity to learn the spirit of the city, to experience the culture, the people and the fun.” By using the top sports facilities in Beijing and promoting a combination of culture, sports and travel, the tournament will satisfy participants and make them feel fulfilled by taking part in the one-week event.
Beijing, as a dynastic city, has become a preferred place to host popular international sports events, especially after the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. However, a youth soccer tournament has never been hosted there before. Inspired by the successes and great impact of the youth soccer tournaments in Europe, such as the Gothia Cup and Norway Cup, the Great Wall cup is trying to attract boys and girls from all over the world who love this amazing sport, offering them the opportunity to spend a week to enjoy the tournament and experience something unique. “Beijing has become an international city; it has already hosted several big-name events drawing public awareness, yet we do not have any youth sporting events. The Beijing Football Association sincerely hopes to take this opportunity to make the Great Wall Cull of Beijing a symbol of the Post-Olympics Beijing,” Mr. Yang explained.
One highlight of the one-week program of the Great Wall Cup of Beijing is called ChinaTouch. ChinaTouch is a workshop that provides foreign players the opportunity to learn and experience Chinese culture and art. The workshop will be held in the hotel lobby all week so every participant can take part. “Teams can learn basic Chinese, calligraphy, and practice kung fu with our kung fu master,” says Shine Liu, the managing director of China Sports Tour. “We arranged this workshop to allow international teams to experience something new and unique. It is easier to learn and make new friends in a happy atmosphere.”
Mr. Shine Liu also explained more details of the event: “Not only do we want to add fun and cultural elements to this tournament, but we are also trying to create more opportunities for talented players professionally, and that is why we have the ‘Meet the Future Star’ event. Professional coaches, scouts and sports agents from China and other Asian countries will be invited to observe the games, they will pick the players they like, and we will help them to arrange a face-to-face conversation so that they can better get to know each other, and to see if there is any possibility of future cooperation.” Besides these activities already mentioned, a grand opening ceremony, a closing banquet, and a Leaders’ Party will be held during the week.
Teams will also have a selection of sightseeing opportunities. They will get the chance to take a one-day trip to the famous Great Wall, visit the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, the Drum and Bell Tower, the Bird’s Nest, the Water Cube, take a tour of old Beijing Hutongs and enjoy a lakeside dinner.
“Inviting international teams to join the Great Wall Cup will make this the biggest international youth soccer event in China ever,” states Mr. Shine Liu, “We feel really honored and excited to be the organization exclusively authorized to promote the tournament internationally.” Back in the late 90s, a youth tournament named “The Four Asia Tigers” was considered to be the most influential youth soccer event in China. Mr. Shine Liu commented, “Unfortunately, the Four Asia Tiger tournament only lasted around three years, and it was Asia-wide only.”
The 2010 Great Wall Cup of Beijing will be held from July 25th-31st at the Beijing Olympic Sports Center Football Park, just across the street from the Bird’s Nest. This tournament will become an annual event in the future and aim to be one of the biggest international sports events in Beijing along with the China Open and the Italian Super Cup.
The Great Wall Cup of Beijing is now looking to cooperate with all kinds of organizations and companies worldwide. Sponsorship packages are also available for companies who want to use this as a platform to introduce their brand and products to China and the world. “The tournament welcomes companies and organizations to join the Great Wall Cup of Beijing together with the teams. With the Beijing Football Association’s support, taking part in the event will definitely help companies to open a window to the Chinese market,” Mr. Shine Liu revealed, “As an international event that is supported and organized by the Beijing Municipal Sports Administration and the Beijing Football Association, media exposure will be inconceivable. Newspaper, portal website and TV media will come in great numbers to report on the tournament and the stories behind it. We believe we will give our sponsors and partners a great return. By participating in this exciting event, companies will not only increase their brand awareness in China, but also build a solid foundation with potential business partners in China. The organizing committee has been talking to Chinese portal websites, national TV stations and influential newspapers. They have all showed great interest in the Great Wall Cup and would like to broadcast, interview and report on it because this is the very first international youth soccer tournament in China, and all media know the importance and significant meaning of the event.”
Teams from America, Switzerland, Australia, Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, Nigeria and Cameroon have already shown interest in coming for the 2010 Great Wall Cup of Beijing. The team registration fee will be waived for teams registering before Feb 28th, 2010. For more information, visit http://www.thegreatwallcup.com/.
Chinas Universities open the door for baseball players
Chinese Baseball Association Hails Historic Announcement
Several of China’s Universities have agreed to add baseball to their list of sports that offer a passport to a tertiary education: a move that baseball insiders have greeted as instantly increasing the People’s Republic’s potential to produce stars in the future.
Shanghai International Studies University, North China University of Technology, and Nanjing University of Technology, East China University of Political Science and Law, Guangzhou Sport University and Tianjin University of Sport have all agreed that they will include baseball among the sports where young talent will be recruited at lower academic admission requirements or exempted them for immediate admission.
“The cooperation of these Universities with CBA is of epoch-making significance. Baseball will become a popular and favorable sport to the young generation now,” Madam SHEN Wei, Secretary-General of the Chinese Baseball Association (CBA) and an Executive Committee Member of International Baseball Federation, the worldwide governing body for the sport of baseball said.
“I’m not sure how easy it is for baseball fans anywhere else in the world to understand the significance of this. It’s a milestone for youth baseball development!” declared Chinese-born financier Kenny HUANG Jian Hua, the chairman of QSL Sports Limited, who earlier this month was unveiled as the CBA’s long-term partner chosen to China Youth Baseball League (“CYBL”).
“This is an enormous step in unlocking the potential of a country of 1.4 billion people. Now baseball is a potential path into the university system it will free hundreds of young players to continue to combine their studies with their sport, instead of being forced to drop baseball completely, and it will inspire thousands more, maybe even tens of thousands children, to give the sport a try! “
Huang’s excitement stems from the enormous importance Chinese parents place in their offspring’s education, a phenomenon that can be traced back to the country’s so-called “one-child policy”.
“For many families there is only one chance, so they plan their child’s education very carefully, almost from the day they are born,” explained Huang, who graduated from Chinese Zhong Shan University, one of the top 10 universities in China before furthering his studies in the United States. Huang has also been involved in a variety of sports deals involving the New York Yankees.
“Naturally, they are reluctant to let anything get in the way of their child’s future. Now, however, baseball can be part of that future. The fact is, overnight, playing baseball has turned into something that can improve the talented child’s chances of getting into a good university!”
Almost all Chinese universities reserve a proportion of places, with slightly lower academic requirements, for talented young athletes with basketball, soccer and volleyball among the most common sports. Earning one of these places is notoriously difficult.
One of the universities entering into the swing of baseball is particularly likely to attract the attention of parents with would-be sluggers or flame-throwing pitchers: The Shanghai International Studies University is one of China’s leading foreign language colleges and part of China’s prestigious “Project 211″ programme aimed at developing its universities into world-class academic establishments.
Meanwhile the CBA has also announced an acceleration in the growth of their sport. Mme SHEN revealed that, through a co-operation with the Ministry of Education, 1,000 schools now have baseball teams, of which 140 are in the tertiary educational institutions. Official statistics now suggest that over 100,000 Chinese are engaged in baseball activities.
Source: QSL Sports Limited
Clippers All-Star Point Guard Baron Davis Celebrates Partnership With Chinese Sports Brand Li-Ning
Los Angeles Clippers’ Baron Davis and Chinese sportswear company Li-Ning announced their partnership yesterday at Mr. Chow’s Restaurant in Beverly Hills. The announcement event offered a sneak peek at the basketball shoes that Davis will wear during the 2008-2009 season.
“I’m so excited about this one-of-a-kind relationship,” said Davis. “Li- Ning has such a strong global presence and I am honored to work with such a well-respected company.”
Davis will have an active role in the branding and product development with the line.
“Baron is unbelievably creative. His passion for the game and abilities on the court, as well as his unique style and fashion sense off the court easily coincide with the brand of Li-Ning,” says Luka He, Li-Ning brand marketing director.
As part of the promotion, Li-Ning is developing a series of “Baron Davis- inspired” athletic gear and Davis will also travel to China in the off-season to promote the new products. The endorsement with Davis will mark another important step toward the continued international expansion of the brand.
The contract was negotiated by Bill Duffy and Todd Ramasar of BDA Sports and BDA affiliate Starz Sports and its lead agent Lu Hao. Ramasar, Davis’ agent, added, “StarzSports played an instrumental role in making this groundbreaking deal happen. Baron is a progressive thinker and partnering with Li-Ning is a direct reflection of Baron’s multifaceted brand.”
Entering his 10th NBA season, Davis is one of the elite guards in the league. He was one of four players last season to average over 20 points and over seven assists (Allen Iverson, LeBron James, Chris Paul) per game. Davis’ career averages include 17.1 points, 7.2 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game.
Li-Ning is one of the leading sports apparel companies in the People’s Republic of China. Their product line includes footwear, apparel and accessories for sport and leisure, which are primarily sold under its own Li-Ning label. The company was founded by Chinese gymnast Li Ning, who won 3 gold medals, 2 silver medals and one bronze medal at the Los Angeles Games in 1984. More recently, he received the honor of lighting the Olympic Torch at the Opening Ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
Source: Li-Ning Company Limited