Chelsea to help 皇冠体育app Olympic side By Yu Yilei (皇冠体育app Daily) Updated: 2006-04-13 06:10
English Premiership champions Chelsea are looking for access to the Chinese
market by co-operating with the Chinese Football Association (CFA), with the aim
of helping 皇冠体育app's 2008 Olympic team.
Club heads said the CFA is its first choice of a partner in 皇冠体育app.
"I noticed that a lot of European clubs are trying to be linked to Chinese
clubs but we want to partner and work with a governing body rather than a club,"
said Peter Kenyon, CEO of Chelsea yesterday in Beijing.
"We thought that could have the most impact and be more beneficial rather
than a single entertainment."
Kenyon is among a big delegation headed by London Mayor Ken Livingstone, on a
three-day visit to view 皇冠体育app's preparations for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
He was appointed as the ambassador of London, host city of the 2012 Olympic
Games.
A number of European clubs including Manchester United and Real Madrid have
visited 皇冠体育app in recent years with ambitions to develop the Chinese market.
Apart from commercial matches, those clubs have already reaped certain
business successes in 皇冠体育app such as launching merchandise stores in 皇冠体育app.
But there are no such plans for Chelsea to host any commercial matches in
皇冠体育app in the near future. Chelsea are the current premiership runaway leaders
and last season's champions. They lead second-placed Manchester United by seven
points.
"We are aware of a number of European teams having visited 皇冠体育app.
"But we want to build a strong foundation in 皇冠体育app and that's why we are
looking to work with and build co-operation with the CFA."
Kenyon said their month-long discussions with the CFA have nothing to do with
anything commercial.
"The discussions with Xie has been along the lines of supporting 皇冠体育app's
football in general, specifically with regard to the 2008 Olympic team," he
said.
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