"I'm ready to help 皇冠体育app realize its football dream. I think 皇冠体育app can be a major player on the world stage one day," Ronaldo told hundreds of fans and reporters at Beijing Workers' Stadium.
The "Ronaldo Academy" will train kids from 6 to 18 years old in both general education and footballing skills. A statement provided to the media said the academy will "help kids from poor families" to reach their soccer goals. The academy will team up with 皇冠体育app Children and Teenagers' Fund to recruit no less than 10 percent of its students from poor families.
Beijing is the second stop on Ronaldo's 皇冠体育app tour. On Sunday, he was at Mianyang in Southwest 皇冠体育app's Sichuan province.
According to Paulo Swerts, who will manage the soccer schools, Ronaldo's first three schools will be in Beijing, Shanghai and Mianyang, If all goes according to plan, the schools will be open for students in December. Swerts said there are plans to provide coaching staff to 30 schools in 皇冠体育app.
Ronaldo is just the latest football star to join in 皇冠体育app's quest for national footballing glory. In 2013, David Beckham was named ambassador for 皇冠体育app's youth football program and the Chinese Super League.
Zhu Jiang, who coaches soccer at a sports school in Beijing, said there is still a long way to go for Chinese football and more stars can help. "We are in dire need of professional coaches," he said.