March 19 – Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, who launched their Chinese language site on the Netease platform last month, have increased their Chinese commitment with further support for the AIA China Youth Football Development programme.
The AIA China Youth Football Development programme aims to provide sporting opportunities for thousands of disadvantaged young people in rural China. Spurs will wear the charity’s logo on the front of its shirts for its Premier League fixture against Leicester City on March 21.
The special edition match day shirts worn by the players will then be auctioned for the charity.
Spurs have a long term deal with life insurance provider AIA who have the club’s shirt sponsorship as part of the package.
The AIA China Youth Football Development programme was launched in Shanghai last year by Spurs legends Ledley King and Steffen Freund, and coaches from the Club’s Academy. Two young people from Guangdong province will be team mascots and help lead the players out on to the pitch this Saturday.
Daniel Levy, Chairman, Tottenham Hotspur, said:”We are delighted to show our support for a cause that is close to the hearts of our principal partner, AIA, and one which we have been involved with since it launched last year.
John Cai, AIA China CEO, said: “We are proud to partner with Tottenham Hotspur to promote the AIA China Youth Football Development programme to a wider audience outside China…As the Real Life Company, AIA China aims to use the power of football as a positive force to benefit local communities, especially those underprivileged youngsters. AIA China is committed to making hundreds and thousands of young people’s dreams come true through our football charity programme.”
Spurs estimates its fanbase at 170 million in the Asia-Pacific region, 45 million of them in China. The club has five supporters clubs across the region.
The Chinese language website launched on China’s largest football web portal Netease and can be viewed at Cn.tottenhamhotspur.com.
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