Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SHANGHAI134
2008-04-02 05:40:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Shanghai
Cable title:
SOCCER DIPLOMACY IN SHANGHAI
how-toVZCZCXRO0807 RR RUEHCN RUEHGH DE RUEHGH #0134/01 0930540 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 020540Z APR 08 FM AMCONSUL SHANGHAI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6801 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1813 RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 1186 RUEHGZ/AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU 1157 RUEHSH/AMCONSUL SHENYANG 1184 RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 1316 RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 0996 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0201 RUEHGH/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI 7345
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SHANGHAI 000134
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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON SOCI OEXC OIIP KPAO CH KS KN
SUBJECT: SOCCER DIPLOMACY IN SHANGHAI
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SHANGHAI 000134
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/CM AND INR - CLARKE
NSC FOR WILDER AND TONG
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON SOCI OEXC OIIP KPAO CH KS KN
SUBJECT: SOCCER DIPLOMACY IN SHANGHAI
1. (U) Summary: In late March 2008, North Korea played South
Korea in a World Cup Qualifier that ended in a draw. The mostly
South Korean crowd gave each team a standing ovation at the end
of the match. In Early March, the Los Angeles Galaxy played the
Chinese All-Star team, although Chinese fans seemed more
interested in David Beckham than the outcome of the game. The
success of these two international matches offer a preview of
this summer's Olympics, in which many of the Men's soccer
qualifying matches will be played in Shanghai. End Summary.
--------------
Korea v. Korea
--------------
2. (U) North Korea hosted South Korea in Shanghai for a World
Cup qualifying match on March 26, at Hongkou Stadium. In this
early stage of World Cup competition, teams are put into a group
with 3 other countries. Each country hosts the other three
countries for a match. North Korea chose to host their match
with South Korea in Shanghai instead of Pyongyang. This allowed
North Korea to avoid the question of whether South Korea could
fly its flag and play its national anthem. In Shanghai, both
anthems were played and both flags flown while crowds cheered
both teams.
3. (U) Although North Korea was nominally the host, South
Koreans dominated the crowd. The 35,000 seat stadium was 70
percent full, with the vast majority of fans cheering for the
South. The stadium pulsed with the cheers of "This is
KoooooREA!" and fans singing lyrics set to Beethoven's "Ode to
Joy." After the match, the two sides formed lines to exchange
handshakes, then both teams took turns bowing to each side of
the stadium. The crowd cheered wildly for both teams, giving
them standing ovations. The few identifiable North Korean fans
waved their flags with big smiles, celebrating their triumphant
draw against the favored South. The South Korean fans also
celebrated the chance to see a game that would have been all but
impossible to attend had it been hosted in Pyongyang.
--------------
Beckham's Galaxy vs. China's All-Stars
--------------
4. (U) David Beckham was the star attraction when Major League
Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy took on an all-star team from
Shanghai and Hong Kong on March 5. The crowd chanted Beckham's
name prior to the game and cheered each time he touched the
ball. He did not disappoint, providing early on a crossing pass
that set up the game's first goal.
5. (U) The game was hosted in the 80,000 seat Shanghai Stadium.
The stadium, built in 1997, was about half capacity with most
fans cheering for Beckham first and foremost. When Beckham was
finally pulled from the game with 20 minutes remaining, nearly
the entire crowd headed for the exits, despite the score being
1-0. The crowd's exit shows how much brand names matter in
China. Following the game there were posters and jerseys of
Beckham for sale. None of the vendors had Chinese team
merchandise or merchandise for the game's star, Guatemala's
Carlos Ruiz who scored all three of the game's goals. After
Beckham, and most fans, exited, the Galaxy scored two more
goals. The final scoreboard read USA: 3, China: 0, a bit of a
misnomer for a game dominated by a Guatemalan and showcasing a
British player.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
6. (U) These matches demonstrated Shanghai's ability to
successfully host international sporting events. Both venues
were clean and easily accessible by public transportation. The
crowds showed good sportsmanship, with the Korean game being
particularly enthusiastic. A wide variety of nationalities
attended both games and flags for North Korea, South Korea, the
United States, and China were waved in support of their teams.
Shanghai's administration of these two international matches
bodes well for this summer's Olympics, in which many of the
Men's soccer qualifying matches will be played in Shanghai. END
SHANGHAI 00000134 002 OF 002
COMMENT.
JARRETT
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/CM AND INR - CLARKE
NSC FOR WILDER AND TONG
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON SOCI OEXC OIIP KPAO CH KS KN
SUBJECT: SOCCER DIPLOMACY IN SHANGHAI
1. (U) Summary: In late March 2008, North Korea played South
Korea in a World Cup Qualifier that ended in a draw. The mostly
South Korean crowd gave each team a standing ovation at the end
of the match. In Early March, the Los Angeles Galaxy played the
Chinese All-Star team, although Chinese fans seemed more
interested in David Beckham than the outcome of the game. The
success of these two international matches offer a preview of
this summer's Olympics, in which many of the Men's soccer
qualifying matches will be played in Shanghai. End Summary.
--------------
Korea v. Korea
--------------
2. (U) North Korea hosted South Korea in Shanghai for a World
Cup qualifying match on March 26, at Hongkou Stadium. In this
early stage of World Cup competition, teams are put into a group
with 3 other countries. Each country hosts the other three
countries for a match. North Korea chose to host their match
with South Korea in Shanghai instead of Pyongyang. This allowed
North Korea to avoid the question of whether South Korea could
fly its flag and play its national anthem. In Shanghai, both
anthems were played and both flags flown while crowds cheered
both teams.
3. (U) Although North Korea was nominally the host, South
Koreans dominated the crowd. The 35,000 seat stadium was 70
percent full, with the vast majority of fans cheering for the
South. The stadium pulsed with the cheers of "This is
KoooooREA!" and fans singing lyrics set to Beethoven's "Ode to
Joy." After the match, the two sides formed lines to exchange
handshakes, then both teams took turns bowing to each side of
the stadium. The crowd cheered wildly for both teams, giving
them standing ovations. The few identifiable North Korean fans
waved their flags with big smiles, celebrating their triumphant
draw against the favored South. The South Korean fans also
celebrated the chance to see a game that would have been all but
impossible to attend had it been hosted in Pyongyang.
--------------
Beckham's Galaxy vs. China's All-Stars
--------------
4. (U) David Beckham was the star attraction when Major League
Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy took on an all-star team from
Shanghai and Hong Kong on March 5. The crowd chanted Beckham's
name prior to the game and cheered each time he touched the
ball. He did not disappoint, providing early on a crossing pass
that set up the game's first goal.
5. (U) The game was hosted in the 80,000 seat Shanghai Stadium.
The stadium, built in 1997, was about half capacity with most
fans cheering for Beckham first and foremost. When Beckham was
finally pulled from the game with 20 minutes remaining, nearly
the entire crowd headed for the exits, despite the score being
1-0. The crowd's exit shows how much brand names matter in
China. Following the game there were posters and jerseys of
Beckham for sale. None of the vendors had Chinese team
merchandise or merchandise for the game's star, Guatemala's
Carlos Ruiz who scored all three of the game's goals. After
Beckham, and most fans, exited, the Galaxy scored two more
goals. The final scoreboard read USA: 3, China: 0, a bit of a
misnomer for a game dominated by a Guatemalan and showcasing a
British player.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
6. (U) These matches demonstrated Shanghai's ability to
successfully host international sporting events. Both venues
were clean and easily accessible by public transportation. The
crowds showed good sportsmanship, with the Korean game being
particularly enthusiastic. A wide variety of nationalities
attended both games and flags for North Korea, South Korea, the
United States, and China were waved in support of their teams.
Shanghai's administration of these two international matches
bodes well for this summer's Olympics, in which many of the
Men's soccer qualifying matches will be played in Shanghai. END
SHANGHAI 00000134 002 OF 002
COMMENT.
JARRETT