Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech Ltd will donate a total of 50,000 doses of its COVID-19 vaccines to the South American Football Confederation, as the Copa América 2021 Argentina-Colombia will be held between June and July.

CONMEBOL has officially announced the agreement, saying the donation is clear and positive support for South American football, and for the realization of the CONMEBOL Copa América 2021 Argentina-Colombia, set to commence on Sunday, June 13.

"This is the best news that the South American football family has received, as we owe our best efforts at CONMEBOL. It is a gigantic step forward to beat the COVID-19 pandemic……," said Alejandro Domínguez, president of CONMEBOL.

"I appreciate this grand gesture of solidarity and support from the Sinovac company, understanding that football is a fundamental activity for the economy, culture, and physical and mental health of South Americans."

Yin Weidong, chairman, president and CEO of Sinovac Biotech, said that sports can cross boundaries, improve human physical and psychological health, promote fairness, and inspire hopes of all countries, and facing this global pandemic of COVID-19, the vaccine serves the same purpose, because being healthy is everyone's pursuit.

The company expects to convey the confidence of fighting against the pandemic through vaccinations to the world via the Latin America Cup, and as the vaccine brings hope, the company sincerely hopes everyone will escape the threat of the pandemic and resume their favorite activities, he said, adding the company expected the athletes and audiences to start returning to the field so people can watch the games together and cheer together.