http://www.chelseafc.com/page/NewsHomePage/0,,10268~980417,00.html CHELSEA CHINA-BOUND IN 2008 Chelsea Football Club has used the occasion of a reception for Team China to announce that we will be touring in China in 2008. In addition to the Team China players and officials, who are guests of Chelsea FC as they prepare for the Beijing Olympics, the event at Stamford Bridge on Monday evening was attended by representatives of the Chinese Embassy and the Mayor of London's office, plus members of the Chelsea side that played China back in 1979. Paul Smith (pictured right), Chelsea's business affairs director, was the person to break the news of next year's visit when he spoke at the reception. He said: 'Team China have been excellent guests and we have really enjoyed their visit. We hope we have been hosts of a similar calibre because next year the process will be reversed. 'As part of our commitment to developing football in China, Chelsea will be touring in China in 2008. 'We will be taking our first team and playing games on the mainland.' Smith reiterated Chelsea's desire to forge links between the club and China while at the same time aiding development of the Chinese game, adding: 'This is a long term project and Team China is a work in progress. Hopefully we are witnessing the development of the team day-by-day.' John Ross, a representative of the Mayor of London's office in his role as director of economic and business policy, informed everyone that Chelsea have already formed half of an unlikely vanguard in promoting the capital on Chinese soil. With the whole world looking to make an impact on the largest single population on the planet, London wanted to try something different. Ross explained: 'We got hold of Chelsea's chief executive, Peter Kenyon, and said look, everybody in China like everybody in London is completely bored of the signing of official documents and the listing of companies on the London Stock Exchange. 'It is very important but nobody is interested in it.' The first idea from the Mayor's office was the ask the winner of the Chinese equivalent of Pop Idol to switch on lanterns in London to celebrate Chinese New Year. When that made a splash, they called on Chelsea. 'Because it had made some impact, we thought what else could we do so we took with us Chelsea with Peter Kenyon and Girls Aloud, both of which made a big impact,' said Ross. 'All sensible people in the world are much more interested in football and pop music than all this signing of documents.' Chelsea was named as an official ambassador for London in April 2006. 'I only found out this evening that Chelsea are going to China next year which is great news for us,' continued Ross. 'They are the best possible ambassadors we could have for London.' Team China continue their training at Chelsea's training HQ until Thursday when they fly home, just in time for Chinese New Year. The incoming Year of the Pig was marked at Monday's event by a porcine ice sculpture as well as Chinese decor, food, acrobats and ribbon dancing. Ke Yasha, the culture minister counsellor for the Chinese Embassy said: 'I have been told by Mr Li Xiaoguang (team manager of Team China, pictured left) that they do believe they have learned a lot from the two weeks of training. 'I was very happy to learn that Chelsea are going to take your team to China. I am sure that the many millions of football fans in China will be very excited and welcome your visit.' Li Xiaoguang added: 'As we all know, the UK is the home of the modern football game. As we have had the chance to train in Chelsea Football Club, our players have had the chance to broaden their horizons and improve their levels. 'We have laid a wonderful foundation for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. 'As the Year of the Pig comes, I would like to wish everyone ever-lasting good luck and that every dream comes true.' --

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