CRI NEWS

AFC Cup Holds Final Rehearsal

2004-7-15 0:09:13 CRIENGLISH.com

The 13th AFC Asian Cup will kick off this Saturday in Beijing. Three days before the real thing, the Beijing Organizing Committee held its last rehearsal of the opening ceremony at the Capital Stadium Wednesday. CRI's reporter Li Gang has the details:

With drums beating and fire crackers cracking, the final rehearsal of the 2004 Asian Cup opening ceremony got underway. Hundreds of youngsters in white tracksuits were divided into eighteen groups, sixteen of them each holding the national flag of one of the competing countries, one holding the flag of the Asian Football Confederation and another that of FIFA. Li Dehai, from Sanjing Middle School, took part and says he is really excited having China host the Asian Cup this year.

"We do the national flags performance. We have practiced over one month for the opening ceremony and over two hundred people are involved. I'm also a football fan and look forward to seeing an international soccer match in Beijing. So this is a fantastic opportunity for me."

This is the first time for China to host the Asian Cup. 2004 also marks the centennial anniversary of the founding of FIFA and the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Asian Football Confederation. So this year's Asian Cup is a milestone in the history of world soccer.

As the voice from the loudspeaker said, China is actually the birthplace of a type of football. In the ancient Tang Dynasty, over 1,000 years ago, a primitive type of football had already become popular in China. By then, Chinese people had developed specific rules and goal nets for playing the game. At today's rehearsal, some performers are wearing Song Dynasty costume and simulating playing ancient Chinese football.

Besides the special Chinese colour and excitement of the artistic performances, the Beijing Organizing committee has also taken detailed measures to ensure the safety of the spectators during rehearsals and the tournament itself. Though officials from the organizing committee are busy with the rehearsal and not available for comments, ambulances, emergency cars and special police are fully prepared for any emergency. All bodes well for a great start to the Asian Cup on Saturday.

Li Gang, CRI news.

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