China Football Summit 2016 explores the development of football

The recent China Football Summit 2016 set about charting the development of football in China, using extensive examples from the nation’s commercial centre of Shanghai to highlight how China aims to become a sporting powerhouse.

Held at Shanghai’s Chongming Convention Centre from 26th to 27th May, the opening address from Shanghai Football Association Vice Chairman Shen Lei explained how Shanghai has a significant football tradition with two teams in China’s top league: Shanghai SIPG FC and Shanghai Shenhua FC.

Looking to the future, the Genbao Football Academy at Chongming was presented as an example of the development of the game in the world’s most populous nation.

Genbao Football Academy opened in 2000 and has seen six of its graduates go on to play for the China National Team, including Wu Lei, and 40 players at an elite level.

Research presented from the Chongming Sports Bureau showed that Chongming’s established strength in developing football, the local government and market are vital in popularising campus football, developing grass roots football, propelling the industry, co-building a football region and offering experiences that can be generalised and copied for Shanghai’s own footballing reform and development, especially in terms of nurturing youth players.

Leading Chinese football development expert Xu Genbao explained that “to build up a sophisticated academy is not as simple as pooling some money, buying a piece of pitch and erecting buildings.

“Our goal is to create a ‘Manchester United FC in China’ and as many football stars as possible. Our trait is always sticking to the techniques.”

With Alibaba having established its Alisports ventue in September 2015, Daniel Tao, Sports Events Operation Director of Alisports, explained Alibaba’s eigh-year title sponsorship contract with the FIFA World Cup.

He also advised that the company’s vision is to create a foundation in the Chinese sports industry backed by digital marketing.

Discussing the experiences of China’s top youth training institutions, a panel discussion at the Summit considered factors impeding the progress of football in the country, especially in terms of youth players.

Here, David Lopez, Executive Vice President and Managing Director for Asia SOXNA, explained “China lacks proper competition systems” and “we still need thousands of good coaches in China.

Kevin Anderson, Technical Director of R&F Soccer School added “the cultivation of a football culture is also necessary.

“Youngsters across Europe and South America grow up surrounded by footballing influences ... their fathers, and even mothers, playing football, and watching games with them, so they are drowned in a football culture”.

With a number of English Premier League clubs attending the Summit 2016, the importance of broadcasting English football in mainland China, which is done via diverse channels and methods was also considered. Super Sports serves fans and the most important is to serve fans, with no doubt.

China Football Summit 2016 was organised by Pioneer Sports and backed by the Chongming Sports Bureau.

The Genbao Football Academy, is located in the southern Chongming Dongping National Forest Park, with facilities including 3.5 standard football pitches, an indoor football pitch with artificial turf and a football hotel.

The China Football Summit 2016 was organised by Pioneer Sports and backed by the Chongming Sports Bureau.

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