FIFA president Sepp Blatter thanks local organizing committee, the government of China and the Chinese Football Association here on Tuesday at a press conference for their efforts in organizing a systematical World Cup, adding his specific impression on Monday night's opening ceremony.
"It's exactly what in my heart football shall be," said the boss who arrived here to watch the United States-DPR Korea match which kicked off the campaign of Group B, the arguable Group of Death of the 2007 China World Cup.
"Women's football is more than a sport. There's joy, pleasure, music, dance and entertainment," he added.
Blatter also gave his words to the Chinese women's team, which holds high expectations for next year's Olympic Games football tournament on home soil.
"They are good since there's only 12 teams. I think China's women squad is prepared better than the men's team, who earned bad result from the Asian Cup," he said.
The Swiss will be back home on 13 and return to China in one or two weeks to discuss China's bid for the 2018 men's World Cup.
"When I come to China, I see the country has been able to organize the Olympic Games fielding over 10,000 athletes in 28 sports, and they are able to organize the women's World Cup. So I think they definitely are able to organize a men's World Cup," said Blatter.
"But we've not decided the hosts for the 2014 World Cup, and 2018 is too far away. There may be many contenders when it comes the day for China to bid for the 2018 tournament, since now football is with good profit and World Cup is on the top," he added.
Asked his prospect for the 2007 World Cup winners, Blatter joked that "the team wins the one million dollars (the prize for World Cup champions) is the team to win the final."
Source: Xinhua
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