David Beckham is here in the Chinese capital. Beginning his role as China’s first global football ambassador, the Paris Saint-German midfielder, who is as big a star here as he is anywhere else, will spend four days on a whistle-stop tour across the country. Beckham received a warm welcome by Chinese fans at the airport.
His role will involve helping to promote the Chinese Super League to the world, raising the profile of the game within China itself and to restore its image after recent match-fixing scandals. Professional football in China is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Strikers Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba and coach Marcello Lippi and Sergio Batista are among the high profile names to move to China. Although Drogba and Anelka lasted just one season.
Beckham will spend two days in Beijing visiting the Workers Stadium, home to Beijing Guo’an Football Club. He’ll meet players and fans and tour the stadium. Beckham’s four-day visit some other football clubs in China’s Qingdao and Wuhan cities.