05.08.2010 17:40
Barça strengthen links with China
David Saura (special correspondent)
FC Barcelona Vice President Josep Maria Bartomeu has signed a number of deals and letters of agreement with various Chinese entities with the aim of increasing the club’s presence in China.
Barça’s social commitment and their work with various NGO projects proved to be of
considerable interest to the Chinese audience at a formal event held at the Crown Plaza Hotel in
Beijing in the presence of Sr Bartomeu and the three other board members present on the Tour, Jordi
Moix, Dídac Lee and J. Ramon Vidal-Abarca).
Main lines of action
After a video presentation outlining the principle lines of action of
the Fundació, Sr Bartomeu explained the main areas of solidarity work the club is involved in and
stressed the importance of the agreements signed in Beijing: “Sunday’s game is
important, but these agreements will help make the relationship between Barça and China deeper and
more long lasting”.
The agreements signed are with:
♦The Chinese Red Cross: to help in the education of young Chinese boys and girls
through sporting activities.
♦China Sports Foundation, which is part of the National Bureau of Sport in China: to
study a plan to improve Chinese sportsmen and women’s performances at the highest level.
♦ Beijing Football Association and China Sports Event Management Group: to study ways
of cooperation, taking advantage of FC Barcelona’s experience in organising summer campuses
for youngsters.
♦Department of Training and Diet of the National Bureau of Sport in China: to study new
diets and new alimentary procedures to help improve Chinese athlete’s performances.
♦China Mobile: to study the possibility of creating a supporters club on a virtual
platform in China.
The organisations concerned and the club interchanged commemorative gifts to celebrate the
agreements and amongst the most impressive was an Olympic Torch from the 2008 games presented by
the China Sports Foundation.