HONG KONG, Sept. 22 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ — The organisers of the internationally acclaimed Football World Series tournaments in Europe and the Middle-East are changing the face of football in Asia with the signing of a joint venture with Sports Fusion Asia Ltd (SFA) to be known as Football World Series Asia Ltd. (FWSA). FWSA plans to stage a series of football tournaments starting as early as July 2009, across the Greater China and Asia Pacific region.
As a result of the partnership signed today, football fans in Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and other major Asian cities will see their favourite international teams play in their local cities as early as July 2009. Teams include, but not limited to: AC Milan, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Aston Villa, Barcelona, Celtic, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester United, Rangers, Real Madrid, Roma, Seville and Tottenham.
The Chairman of FWSA is Mr. Stuart Webb, who is highly respected in the international football world. He is former Chairman of the Derby Country Football Club, Director of the United Kingdom’s Football League, and Founder of Football World Series. Since 1998, the Football World Series Challenge has captured the attention of fans in Europe and the Middle East with their high-quality tournaments showcasing the world’s top professional football clubs. The past two World Series Challenges were successfully held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in January 2008 and Amsterdam in August 2008, each being broadcast live into 131 countries worldwide and sponsored by the government of Dubai, LG Electronics and Emirates Airlines.
Mr. Webb said: “This is a very exciting time for Asian soccer fans as FWSA is going to become an integral part of the Asian and global football calendars. We want to replicate the success in Asia of our existing Football World Series tournaments in Europe and the Middle East uniting fans and sponsors across the region, and elsewhere in the world.”
Mr. John Hung has been appointed as the Deputy Chairman of FWSA, representing SFA’s interests. Mr. Hung is a former Managing Director of Wheelock & Company, former Chairman of the Hong Kong Sports Development Board and former Hong Kong Tourism Commission member. Mr. Hung said that FWSA, headquartered in Hong Kong, is well positioned to stage the tournaments given the expert team of event managers across the region. “What’s more, it’s now very timely for Hong Kong to build a greater sports culture off the back of the Beijing Olympics,” he added. “We are looking forward to bringing the Football World Series to Asia and to giving fans their best ever soccer experience.”
Mr. Webb’s decision to form a partnership with SFA was encouraged by Mr. Hung’s extensive reputation and track record in Hong Kong’s sports industry. “Not only has John had a successful regional corporate career, and been a former Chairman of the Hong Kong Sports Development Board but also a Vice President of the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union,” he said. “In addition, while President of the Hong Kong Cricket Association he was instrumental in inaugurating the highly successful Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes Tournament.”
In conjunction with the Asian tournaments, FWSA will be supporting Operation Breakthrough, a Hong Kong-based charity committed to the development of young people through sporting activities and positive interaction with off-duty Hong Kong Police officers. Today FWSA will be donating two signed football shirts from the Arsenal and Inter Milan teams to Operation Breakthrough.
About Football World Series
Football World Series is a highly successful football event management group formed in 1998 to bring competitive and international events to key cities around the world. So far, the company has organised 25 international football tournaments where 41 of the world’s club sides from 17 countries have competed in a year-round calendared event format. In 2008, Football World Series staged tournaments in Amsterdam, Dubai which included AC Milan, Hamburg, the Chinese National Team, Arsenal, Inter Milan and AJAX.
About Sports Fusion Asia Ltd
Sports Fusion Asia Ltd is the 50% shareholder of the newly formed joint venture company with Football World Series, the organiser of the internationally acclaimed Football World Series tournaments in Amsterdam and Dubai. Sports Fusion Asia’s experienced executives in sporting event management and connections will enable it to deliver sponsorship partners within the region. SFA has already lined up its first partnership with a leading Shanghai based investment group with diversifications across the leisure, management, property and media sectors.
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SOURCE Football World Series Asia Ltd.