Football superstars can stay with their families
SHANGHAI: Families and personal assistants accompanying football superstars are allowed to stay together during the Olympic Games.
Shanghai Sports Bureau deputy director Qiu Weichang said yesterday: “Football stars usually bring along their spouses, children and even their personal masseurs and physiotherapists. They cannot stay on the same floor as the players but they can stay on other floors of the same hotel.”
He said such a flexible regulation was an exception from stricter rules set by the Beijing organising committee to prohibit athletes’ families from staying in the Olympics village in Beijing.
“We have obtained the committee’s approval. Those accompanying the footballers will also be given special passes to enter the stadium to support their teams,” said Weichang.
Argentina are the biggest name to play their group matches in Shanghai. Barcelona striker Lionel Messi, Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano and Boca Juniors star Juan Roman Riquelme are called up by coach Sergio Batista for the Games.
The city will host 12 of the men’s and women’s Olympics football matches, including two quarter-finals, two semi-finals and the men’s third-and-fourth place match.
Other teams playing in the city include Australia, Ivory Coast, Serbia, South Korea, Honduras, Japan and Norway.
Weichang said all the players would stay at the five-star Huating Hotel and Towers opposite Shanghai Stadium, where the matches are held.
“Superstars or ordinary players, they all must stay in the same hotel. Each team will stay together on the same floor and have their own dining area. They will be separated from other teams and guests staying at other levels.
“We will follow similar security rules in the Olympics village. Each floor will be heavily guarded,” |
發表於 2008-7-20 03:38 PM
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