Mastercard Commits to Grassroots Football Ahead of Olympics

Mastercard Commits to Grassroots Football Ahead of Olympics

November 08, 2007

    BEIJING, Nov. 8 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- MasterCard
Worldwide has today announced its further commitment to
grassroots sports in China with the extension of its
sponsorship agreement with China ClubFootball, China's
first independent grassroots football network.

    Willie Fung, executive vice president and general
manager, Greater China and Korea, MasterCard Worldwide
said, "Football has been one of the most supported
sports in China ever since it was introduced in the 1900s.
The game has developed over the years, with millions
captivated by the historic World Cup qualification for the
men's national team in 2002. Football is a great grassroots
sport which helps bring people of different ages together
and breaks down barriers in many communities. We recognize
ClubFootball's dedication to the development of
community-based sports in China and are proud to be working
with them to further encourage football locally."

    The announcement marks the third year of co-operation
between MasterCard Worldwide and ClubFootball and will
focus on further swelling the ranks of amateur men, women
and juniors participating in well established leagues and
coaching courses. It also marks the formal launch of
ClubFootball's campaign to bring Chinese amateur football
into the 21st century with the establishment of the first
ClubFootball Play Centre in Beijing.

    Welcoming the agreement, ClubFootball Chairman Rowan
Simons remarked, "With so much focus on elite sport in
the lead up to the Olympics, MasterCard's on-going
commitment to our grassroots campaign and particularly its
extended support at this crucial time sends a powerful
message that sport is for all." 

    The ClubFootball campaign pays particular attention to
junior football as ClubFootball CEO Keith Bradbury
explained. "We operate fun, character building courses
at more than 10 venues, serving kids of both sexes and all
levels, so MasterCard's substantial commitment will help us
spread the message even further. Chinese kids are more than
welcome to join our courses held in international schools
and to help us spread this important message, MasterCard is
sponsoring a prize competition, offering free places on a
MasterCard ClubFootball Winter Holiday Camp and other
football-related prizes." 

    According to ClubFootball COO David Niven, the men's
campaign centres on MasterCard ClubFootball 5-a-side
Leagues; which offer competitive, organized football on
midweek evenings and at weekends. "The tournament
already consists of 8 divisions making it the biggest in
Beijing and it caters to all levels of ability and
interest." 

    When China hosted the thrilling 2007 Women's World Cup,
the MasterCard campaign also continued to emphasize the
importance of offering women an avenue into grassroots
sport and build on the interest that the tournament
inspired within the community. 

    "We've found that many women don't feel that
football is accessible to them, even where they hold a
long-standing interest in the game," said Niven,
"and support from MasterCard means we can offer free
coaching sessions delivered by English FA qualified
Coaches. This encourages participants to practice their
English at the same time as keeping fit and having fun and
is just the first stage in a long term plan to promote the
women's game at amateur levels." 

    The final element to the campaign is the MasterCard
ClubFootball Grassroots Review, a legacy fundraising event
through which ClubFootball hopes to introduce its
ClubFootball Play Centre model to Beijing. Details of the
project will be released closer to the time but events are
set to include celebrity endorsement and an auction of
star-studded football memorabilia never before seen in
China.

    ClubFootball Chairman, Rowan Simons noted that
"2008 is the most important year in China's sport
history. While welcoming the Olympic Games, we are highly
focused on involving thousands more people in sport at the
amateur level and modern and professionally managed
facilities are a key part of our post-Olympic vision.
ClubFootball Play Centres offer Beijing an opportunity to
set new worldwide standards in grassroots sports and our
first site will showcase that potential."

    About MasterCard Worldwide

    MasterCard Worldwide advances global commerce by
providing a critical economic link among financial
institutions, businesses, cardholders and merchants
worldwide. As a franchisor, processor and advisor,
MasterCard develops and markets payment solutions,
processes over 16 billion transactions each year, and
provides industry-leading analysis and consulting services
to financial institution customers and merchants. Through
its family of brands, including MasterCard(R), Maestro(R)
and Cirrus(R), MasterCard serves consumers and businesses
in more than 210 countries and territories. For more
information go to http://www.mastercard.com .

    About ClubFootball

    ClubFootball is Beijing's first joint venture football
club and has broken new ground in developing the game of
football in China through a variety of high-profile and
grass roots projects and initiatives that have earned the
company recognition throughout the business, sporting and
wider community. ( http://www.clubfootball.com.cn )


    For more information, please contact:

     ClubFootball
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]