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| David Beckham arrived in Beijing on Wednesday morning. (Photo/CNS} |
Beijing (CNS) -- David Beckham arrived in Beijing on Wednesday morning, kicking off his ambassadorial role for Chinese football.
The soccer superstar received a hero's welcome as he touched down at Beijing Capital International Airport.
As China's first global ambassador for football, the 37-year-old former England captain will help promote Chinese football domestically and globally.
"I am honored to have been asked to play such an important role at this special time in Chinese football history," said Beckham in a statement before his Beijing tour, which will last four days.
"I'm excited by the prospect of promoting the world's greatest game to Chinese sports fans, as I've seen firsthand the growing interest in football there. This is a wonderful sport that inspires people across the world and brings families together, so I'm relishing the opportunity of introducing more fans to the game," Beckham said.
On his first day in Beijing, Beckham played football with students at the Shijia Hutong Primary School in Beijing's Dongcheng district.
"One of the important reasons that I have come to China to serve as the ambassador is that I hope to promote youth soccer development in the country," he said.
"I didn't come to China for money, I just want to contribute my part in improving the image of Chinese football," Beckham added.
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