From the Readers

Full support for China hosting 2026 World Cup

(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-07-19 13:42

Comment on "Sights set on hosting of 2026 World Cup in China" (China Daily, July 17)

Chinese football is not there yet, but winning the bid to host the Cup will be a great driving force to boost and improve our football standard. It will encourage youngsters to play football and maybe even attain superstar status such as what we see in great football nations. It will also ensure our stadiums built for the Olympics will not be left idle.

It is foolish to think that we must be football champions to host the World Cup finals or that we should have the ability to be champions. What is important is that there must be a driving force for our football players and fans to be active to do well, and that is what hosting the final is capable of delivering.

We need to be sporting. We play hoping to win. Win or lose is just a learning process. The just concluded World Cup final tells many stories. It provides an opportunity for us to know what football is all about - the excitement, the pain, the joy and everything else as shown on the faces of both the footballers and fans. It is a time when many people from around the world get to see one another at the venues. It is a time when all eyes are on the TV screen receiving LIVE telecasts. It is a month of nothing but football.

Yes, it is an occasion when a nation's unity seemingly merges into one. Yes, China should bid to host the Cup final in 2026, or any other time. It must. It will be good for Chinese football.

Hsuntze, on China Daily Website