Int'l soccer stars to join Expo for promotion

SHANGHAI - A number of pavilions in the Expo Garden are making plans to invite their national soccer stars to the Expo following the World Cup finals.

Brazil, the winner of the most World Cups with stars like Kaka, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, is at the forefront of the initiative.

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"There will be a series of sports activities in September at the Brazil pavilion. We're making contact with the Brazilian government to invite soccer stars for the events," said Liu Jun, PR coordinator with the Brazil pavilion. However, he didn't say who the players might be.

Argentina is also hoping to entice some of its stars to Shanghai.

"Lionel Messi has been on our top invite list since the beginning of Expo 2010 Shanghai. We can't promise anything yet, but we're trying to make it come true," said Martin Garcta Moritan, the commissioner-general of the Argentina pavilion.

He said there would be updated and more detailed information by next week.

Messi, 23, plays for Barcelona, and is considered one of the best footballers of his generation.

The European Union pavilion has confirmed the appearance of Union of European Football Associations President Michel Platini. The former French star player will bring a European "dream team" with him in September as part of a European Football Festival week to be held at the Expo.

They all-star team will play a friendly game against a veteran Chinese team at the Expo Culture Center. The game will be free to all visitors at the Expo Garden, who will have the opportunity to win signed gifts from the players.

"The lists of team players haven't been finalized yet, but Platini will be here because he is leading the European Football Festival week, of which the veterans' game will be a part," said Xia Yubing, press officer of the EU pavilion.

Xia would not confirm the appearance of legends Paolo Maldini, Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane, although all three are rumored to be part of the European team.

Unfortunately, the Spain pavilion does not have any plans to invite the World Cup winners to the Expo, as budget problems caused by the impact of the financial crisis have ended any plans to invite the national team, according to Yang Yue, press officer at the Spanish pavilion.

However, two pavilions in Urban Best Practice Area, Madrid and Barcelona, are making arrangements for clubs from their respective cities, Real Madrid and Barcelona, both European soccer giants, to visit the Expo Garden.

Superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, captain of the Portuguese national team, currently plays with Real Madrid.

The Portugal pavilion had earlier signaled its intent to invite Ronaldo to the Expo for an appearance at the pavilion.

The coach of the successful German national team may also put in an appearance.

"As Freiburg is the birthplace of Joachim Loew, the current coach of the German team, we want to invite him over for a small event in our pavilion," said Li Wenye, media officer of Freiburg's case pavilion.

Loew is credited with taking his young and inexperienced team to third place in the World Cup.