A subordinate committee of the world football governing body,
FIFA, has released the schedule for the football event at the 2008
Beijing Olympics.
The FIFA Organizing Committee for the Olympic football
tournaments said in a statement that the women's Olympic football
matches will kick off on August 6, 2008 in Tianjin and conclude 15
days later at the Workers' Stadium in Beijing.
The opening game for the men's football event is set for
Shanghai on August 7, 2008 and the final will be played at the
National Stadium on August 23 in Beijing.
Qinhuangdao and Shenyang are also among the cities hosting
football matches during the Olympiad.
The Chinese men's and women's Olympic football teams are sure to
emerge at the games as hosts.
The qualifying competitions around the globe are set to be
completed by March 2008, the statement added. Brazil and Argentina
have already confirmed their slots in the tournament thanks to
their one-two positions at the recent South American U-20
Championship.
In women's qualifying rounds, a playoff is designed between the
second-place holders from Africa and South America to decide the
last ticket for the Beijing Games. Brazil will represent South
America, while their counterpart is unclear until the qualifying
event in Africa comes to end.
Twelve women's football squads will compete at the Olympics for
the first time ever, according to the committee, two more than the
number of teams at previous Olympic Games.
(CRI February 1, 2007)