Schedule Finalized for Women's World Cup Soccer 2003

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, December 20, 2001

Schedule Finalized for Women's World Cup Soccer 2003

The competition schedule for the Women's World Cup 2003 soccer tournament has been finalized as for September 24-October 11, organizers announced Wednesday in Wuhan.

The competition schedule for the Women's World Cup 2003 soccer tournament has been finalized as for September 24-October 11, organizers announced Wednesday in Wuhan.

The eastern Chinese cities Shanghai and Hangzhou, southwestern city Chengdu and Wuhan in central China will host the group matches of the World Cup tournament while the final and the third-place play-off will be staged in Shanghai, according to Zhang Jilong, Vice-president of the Chinese Football Association (CFA). Venues for the quarter-finals and semi-finals are yet to be decided.

Shanghai will also host an international seminar on the worldwide development of women's soccer, with representatives from FIFA's 214 member federations and associations participating.

The local organizers of the four venue cities had made careful plans on such issues as venues, traffic, reception and security, Zhang said. And officials of the committees are determined to make the preparations up to the requirement set by the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA), the sport's world governing body.

The CFA will make thorough checks over the preparations prior to a visit by a FIFA inspection delegation slated for next April, Zhang said.

The leading CFA official promised that concerted efforts shall be made with local organizers to make the 2003 World Cup tournament an event featuring Chinese characteristics and being up to international standard, so as to further promote the sport both in China and in other parts of the world.

Impressive progress has been achieved in fund raising, with sponsorship agreement reached with such international firms as Adidas, Coca-Cola and Hitachi, according to Feng Jianming,

secretary-general of the organizing committee.

Efforts are being made on the marketing of the event so as to work out a balanced budget. "Every penny shall be spent on the right subject," Feng promised.

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