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FOOTBALL IN CHINA

PRINCIPAL WINTER SPORT

A game- closely akin to modern association football was played in China more than 500 years ago, said the Chinese Consul at Wellington (Mr Wu Wen Hui) when he was asked for information about Chinese football. A Chinese team from Hong Kong will arrive in New Zealand this month. Formerly a version of football was played in the courts of China for the, entertainment of royalty. The game played in China today was introduced from Great Britain, however, and since 1920 its popularity has grown so that jt ranks with basketball as a principal outdoor winter sport, said Mr Wu. In China, football was played in the autumn and winter months, from September to April. Crowds 7 of up to 100,000 watched matches, some of which were played under floodlights at night. Volley ball was a popular game in China. Badminton and tennis had some popularity, and golf was played by a few, said Mr Wu. Chinese do not play polo or horse games. Extracts from-a tetter written by Mr Wu to the New Zealand Football Association were received by the management committee of the Canterbury Football Association last evening.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19550608.2.52

Bibliographic details

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27679, 8 June 1955, Page 7

Word Count
196

FOOTBALL IN CHINA Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27679, 8 June 1955, Page 7

FOOTBALL IN CHINA Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27679, 8 June 1955, Page 7