Newest sports app "Sport8" aims to promote football in the country. (Photo : Reuters)
Sport8 International unveiled on Tuesday at the Beijing-based Chaoyang Museum of Urban Planning the O2O (online to offline) application "Sport8," which is aimed at promoting football.
Huan Jianxiang, one of China's most popular sports commentators and a co-sponsor of Sport8 International, revealed that the app would allow football enthusiasts to connect with children who are also into the sport.
Huang said during the application's release: "We'd like to set up a platform to mobilize the football-related resources in China, including football fans and football pitches that are not frequently used."
"In China, there are many football fans and also a great number of kids who are old enough to play football. By using our 'Sport8,' anyone who applied to become football teachers will have professional training. Once tested qualified, they will give football classes to the kids," Huang further remarked.
Classes are only worth 1 yuan, according to the co-sponsor.
Huang said that the app is in support of the Chinese government's goal of developing football in the country.
Recently, the central government has heightened its effort to boost the sport in the country by launching a football reform plan. The scheme includes multi-level football sports such as professional clubs and leagues, grassroots football and national teams.
China aims to increase the number of schools specializing in football to 20,000 by 2020 and to 50,000 by 2025.
Chinese entrepreneur Bai Qiang and Dutch footballer Wesley Sneijder also sponsor Sport8 International.
