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http://www.chelseafc.com/article ... amp;sub=latest+news
Chelsea sign historic China deal
Tuesday, Apr 25, 2006
Chelsea have signed a groundbreaking deal to work with the Asian Football Confederation on their grassroots development programme in China.
Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon today agreed an exclusive "memoranda of understanding" with AFC president Mohamed bin Hammam in the Chinese city of Qingdao, which will see the club support the AFC's 'Vision China' development project.
The deal is the first part of Chelsea's plan to build long-term relationships with key football bodies in Asia, particularly China. Two weeks ago the club held talks with the Chinese Football Association and have invited the Chinese Olympic team to train at Cobham as preparation for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
Kenyon said: "We are not in this to get players cheap or just to come on tours. In all our discussions we have made it clear that Chelsea's philosophy in our target markets is not to take the money and run. This is a long-term project for us, it's a critical part of the world for football, and as well as developing Chelsea we want to help develop programmes that are beneficial to all parties and help promote football in these regions. It's really important for global football that Asian football is developing and then there's a benefit for everyone. I am delighted that the AFC believe Chelsea can play an important role for them in developing grass roots and youth football in China."
The deal is not financially led. Although final details are yet to be clarified, Chelsea would primarily be looking to help out in marketing, media, training, coaching, education and sports medicine.
Hammam, whose organisation is the equivalent of UEFA in Asia and who has been critical of big European clubs coming on lucrative tours to Asia and leaving nothing behind, agreed it was a unique partnership.
"This is the first time ever a club from Europe has introduced itself to Asia as a developer of football in Asia and to help out Asian football along with our coaches, leagues and referees. I'm very proud today to have signed with Chelsea a memorandum of understanding and Chelsea is going to support Vision Asia," he said.
The project is due to be expanded from two to 15 cities across China in the near future. Vision China is part of a broader Vision Asia programme, under which AFC teams go into cities and provide training and advice to build up local leagues. Leagues in the cities of Qingdao and Wuhan have just completed one season and the project will now be extended to others including Beijing and Shanghai.
The news comes after Chelsea announced a major strategic alliance in the United States with AEG, the operators of four teams in Major League Soccer, and also confirmed last week that Jose Mourinho's team will play the showpiece fixture of the MLS season, against the league's All Star team, in Chicago this summer on August 5. |
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