.contact us |.about us

Highlights ... ...
Search:
    Advertisement
Beckham-mania set to hit China - perhaps
( 2003-07-24 17:57) (Agencies)

The jury is out on whether football glamour boy David Beckham will meet the same kind of hero-worship seen in other parts of Asia when he and Real Madrid land in China Friday.

The England captain, the newest member of the star-studded Spanish club, will lace up for the first time with the champion side under the intense spotlight of hundreds of media as part of a pre-season tour.

Chinese and international critics will also be watching carefully to see how Beckham integrates with Real's world class talent, including Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Raul.

While football in China is still in its infancy, it is considered the country's most popular sport.

European leagues are followed avidly, and Real Madrid and Beckham are as much household names as Chinese basketball giant Yao Ming.

But while the former Manchester United midfielder, with his movie star good looks and family man demeanor, usually sparks scenes of public frenzy, Chinese football fans are expected to remain more cool-headed when the 28-year-old touches down.

"I just like him but not to that crazy degree that many Japanese girls do," said football fan Sharon Xu.

Mania last gripped the region in June when Beckham and wife Victoria -- Posh Spice -- swept through Japan, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia on a whirlwind promotional tour.

In those countries, Asia's favourite footballer was greeted with the howling cult-like adulation usually reserved for rock stars.

A healthy dose of pragmatism is more likely to prevail in China.

The novelty of hosting a team like Real Madrid is about the opportunity of getting to see a team of that calibre, said Dong Hua, a spokesman for the Chinese Football Association.

"It will give Chinese football a chance to learn from a first class team," Dong said.

Real Madrid and Beckham will take to the pitch against a Chinese XI on August 2 in Beijing. The nine-day tour of the mainland will also see the team train at a high altitude pitch in southwestern Yunnan province from July 25 to 31.

The Beijing matchup, one in a series of pre-season exhibition games in Asia, is part of Real Madrid's stepped up marketing bid to tap into what is potentially the largest single merchandising market in the world.

Although Real has yet to capture Asia's imagination like Manchester United, China's 1.3 billion people are seen as a key emerging market.

And with the addition of Beckham to the powerful Real arsenal, the nine-time European champions hope his over-the-top popularity in Asia will also infect Chinese hearts, helping them to part with their cash.

"Compared with Japan and Korea, China is still developing," said Brian Lau, senior event manager at sports management and marketing giants IMG.

"You will see more. This is just a start," he predicted.

But while Chinese football fans may look forward with anticipation toward Madrid's and Beckham's first ever visit to China, few have misgivings about the purpose of the trip.

"I'm sure many will watch Real Madrid's tour of China, especially for Beckham," said football fan Yu Xiao.

"But I don't think the match between China's team and Real Madrid will be exciting because the two teams are not on the same technical level," he said.

"The event is just a show."

   
Close  
  Go to Another Section  
     
 
 
     
  Article Tools  
     
  E-Mail This Article
Print Friendly Format
 
     
   
        .contact us |.about us
  Copyright By chinadaily.com.cn. All rights reserved  
主站蜘蛛池模板: 四虎影院免费视频| 欧美丰满白嫩bbw激情| 国产人妖另类在线二区| 18禁止看的免费污网站| 好爽好紧好多水| 中文字幕欧美成人免费| 日韩三级一区二区三区| 亚洲一区免费在线观看| 欧美极品少妇无套实战| 人人妻人人做人人爽| 精品无码久久久久久国产| 国产丝袜一区二区三区在线观看| 国产色在线视频| 国产精品成人久久久| 91精品国产免费久久国语蜜臀| 日韩人妻无码精品一专区| 免费黄色网址网站| 里番acg里番本子全彩| 国产手机在线αⅴ片无码观看| 直播视频区国产| 国产精品美女久久久免费| 99久久99久久精品国产片果冻| 女人把私密部位张开让男人桶 | 欧美人与动人物姣配xxxx| 亚洲沟沟美女亚洲沟沟| 狠狠综合视频精品播放| 免费在线观看黄网| 高h视频免费观看| 国语自产精品视频在线看| yw在线观看成人免费| 少妇极品熟妇人妻| 三年片在线观看免费观看大全中国| 日本三级在线观看免费| 亚洲婷婷天堂在线综合| 污视频免费看软件| 嘟嘟嘟www在线观看免费高清| 里番acg※里番acg本子全彩| 国产在线视精品麻豆| 黑人巨鞭大战丰满老妇| 国内精品伊人久久久久影院对白| m.jizz4.com|