Beijing's first grassroots sports ambassadors train to travel to Britain

Charlton, UK (June 4, 2008) /ChinaNewswire.com/ — China national captain and Charlton Athletic player Zheng Zhi is getting fully behind the CHINA NOW ClubFootball Exchange that encourages kids in China to play football afterschool and has expressed his hopes that the project will signal the start of more communitybased
sporting exchanges between Britain and China.

Speaking at Charlton's training ground in London, Zheng said that, "it is important that kids start enjoying football at a young age and this project gives a great chance for kids in Beijing to learn more about football the way it is played in Britain. Beijing and London are both Olympic cities and this is a great opportunity to build bridges through sport at all levels".

As key supporters of CHINA NOW, the UK's largest ever festival of Chinese culture, Charlton Athletic will be hosting sixteen young players from ClubFootball in July this year as they travel the country exploring Britain's football culture. According to Sean Daly from Charlton's Community Scheme, "the ClubFootball kids will find a warm welcome from the staff here and will mix in with kids from around the world they are going to have a lot of fun".

Welcoming Zheng Zhi's personal support, ClubFootball Chairman Rowan Simons said, "Zheng has been playing in England for over two years now and many English fans are very impressed with him as a player and also as a role model. He has seen how positive football can be for young people in the UK and he is the perfect man to inspire Chinese kids to get playing as well."

Simon Heale, Chief Executive Officer CHINA NOW, commented, "The CHINA NOW ClubFootball Exchange project is one of the key elements in our 6month celebration of Chinese culture and we are pleased to be working in such close partnership with Charlton Athletic. Our aim is to create longlasting links between the UK and China by creating and supporting projects that increase understanding and initiate dialogue between the two nations."

CHINA NOW, is a 6month nationwide festival of over 1000 Chinese events including exhibitions, performances and activities spanning Chinese film, cuisine, comics, art, literature, music, design, science, technology, business, education and sport across the UK.

Visit www.chinanow.org.uk/events for full details of all events.

About CHINA NOW:

CHINA NOW is an independently funded, nonprofit organisation which aims to build partnerships between artists, cultural leaders, schools, businesses and communities across UK and China.

CHINA NOW was conceived by the UK business community and is chaired by Stephen Green, Group Chairman of HSBC Holdings Plc. Alan Parker, Chairman of Brunswick Group LLP, and James HughesHallett, Chairman of John Swire & Sons Ltd are CoVice Chairmen. The Chief Executive is Simon Heale, the former Chief Executive of the London Metal Exchange.

The CHINA NOW website can be viewed at www.chinanow.org.uk

About ClubFootball:

ClubFootball is Beijing's first joint venture football club and has broken new ground in developing the game of football in China through a variety of high profile and grass roots projects and initiatives that have earned the company recognition throughout the business, sporting and wider community. ClubFootball runs courses for kids between 4 and 18 years old at a number of locations around Beijing. More information is available on the club's website(s) at www.wanguoqunxing.com (Chinese) and www.clubfootball.com.cn (English)

About the CHINA NOW ClubFootball Exchange:
ClubFootball, Beijing's biggest football network, is teaming up with CHINA NOW, the UK's largest ever festival of Chinese culture, to promote grassroots football and give 16 footballloving Beijing youngsters the tour of a lifetime to Britain in the run up to the 2008 Olympic Games.

All Beijing boys aged 1213 who are enrolled in ClubFootball courses in Beijing this Spring will have the chance to win a place on the CHINA NOW tour. The tour will take place in late July and will include training sessions at Charlton FC (club side of Team China captain Zheng Zhi), visits to Old Trafford (the home of Manchester United), Hampden Park (the home of the Scottish Football Association), lunch at the FA Headquarters, and a series of friendly games against British youngsters.

The project is also being supported by the Middle School Times, and, students on the tour will contribute stories and photos about their trip and what they learn about British football culture.

CONTACT INFORMATION

  • Unit A10, Jingdu Business Hotel, 26 Jiuxianqiao Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, PR China. 100016
    Tel: +86 (10) 5130 6893/4/5/6 Fax: 5130 6897
    Web sites: www.wanguoqunxing.com or www.clubfootball.com.cn