Arsenal to play City in Beijing
ARSENAL and Manchester City will play a match in Beijing's 'Bird's Nest' Olympic Stadium on the day London welcomes the world for this year's summer Games.
The Premier League rivals said their first teams would play a one-off match for the inaugural 'China Cup' on July 27 with 8pm local kick-off time, six-and-a-half hours before the London opening ceremony begins.
"It is...fitting that two English clubs are playing each other on the opening day of the London 2012 Olympics, in the stadium which hosted the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games," Arsenal's chief executive Ivan Gazidis said in a statement. "We enjoy huge support in Asia and by playing a match in Beijing we will once again be bringing the club close to our loyal fans in China."
The stadium hosted the Italian Super Cup between AC Milan and city rival Inter in front of more than 70,000 local fans last August.
Wang Shuyan, president of promoters Beijing Winoly International Sports Culture Co, said the match was part of the company's strategic growth plan to bring top clubs and leagues to China.
"Our focus is on elite, authentic football. Arsenal vs Manchester City will undoubtedly be the highest quality EPL match ever in China," he said.
The Premier League rivals said their first teams would play a one-off match for the inaugural 'China Cup' on July 27 with 8pm local kick-off time, six-and-a-half hours before the London opening ceremony begins.
"It is...fitting that two English clubs are playing each other on the opening day of the London 2012 Olympics, in the stadium which hosted the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games," Arsenal's chief executive Ivan Gazidis said in a statement. "We enjoy huge support in Asia and by playing a match in Beijing we will once again be bringing the club close to our loyal fans in China."
The stadium hosted the Italian Super Cup between AC Milan and city rival Inter in front of more than 70,000 local fans last August.
Wang Shuyan, president of promoters Beijing Winoly International Sports Culture Co, said the match was part of the company's strategic growth plan to bring top clubs and leagues to China.
"Our focus is on elite, authentic football. Arsenal vs Manchester City will undoubtedly be the highest quality EPL match ever in China," he said.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS
- |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证:沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证:31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证:0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证:沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证:沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.