SOUTH KOREA: SOCCER LEGEND PELE VISITS SOUTH KOREAN SITES TO CHECK PREPARATIONS AHEAD OF JULY'S WORLD PEACE KING CUP

Record ID: 257754

  • Title: SOUTH KOREA: SOCCER LEGEND PELE VISITS SOUTH KOREAN SITES TO CHECK PREPARATIONS AHEAD OF JULY'S WORLD PEACE KING CUP
  • Date: 5th February 2003
  • Summary: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (FEBRUARY 5, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRES 2. WORLD PEACE KING CUP EMBLEM 3. HEAD TABLE 4. VARIOUS OF PELE AND REPRESENTATIVES OF TEAMS 5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PELE, COMMITTEE ADVISER, SAYING: "When I talked with Mr. Blatter, then I explained to him, the level of the tournament, the higher quality of the tournament, the purpose of the tournament, then the president he said 'Okay, I'm gonna approve this'". 6. EIGHT ENTRY TEAMS 7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PELE SAYING: "This is the only one tournament approved from FIFA now. Maybe in the future, it doesn't have an opportunity to see another small tournament, like we used to have all over the world." 8. MEDIA 9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PELLE SAYING: "I think I'm gonna stay ten years, if I have to stay ten years to organise and to talk with people all over the world, to talk about the peace. This is the main point of this tournament." 10. AUDIENCE APPLAUDING 11. PELE AND OTHERS 12. VARIOUS OF PELE SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS ON SOCCER BALLS 13. PELE POSING WITH OTHER DELEGATES Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 20th February 2003 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
  • Country: South Korea
  • Reuters ID: LVA56ALM3SBD3ZVW58EM4ZZZE9Y3
  • Story Text: Soccer legend Pele has visited South Korea to check on
    preparations ahead of July's World Peace King Cup.


    The 2003 world Peace King Cup will be held in South
    Korea for eight days starting with the opening ceremony on
    July 15, 2003.

    A group of eight world-famous soccer clubs from five
    continents -- Italy (AS Roma), Netherlands (PSV Eindhoven),
    France (Olympique Lyonnais), Germany (Bayer 04 Leverkusen),
    United States (LA Galaxy), Brazil (Sao Paulo) and Republic of
    South Africa (Kaizer Chiefs) and Republic of Korea (Seongnam
    Ilwha) -- have confirmed their participation in the Games.

    After a round-robin competition, the group winners will
    square off for the title. The champion will pocket $2 million
    U.S. dollars while the runners-up receive $500,000 U.S.

    dollars.

    A total of 13 matches -- 12 preliminary matches and one
    final match -- will be held across South Korea.

    The news conference in Seoul was attended by the
    chairpersons of each nation's club as well as Pele, who has
    taken the role of bringing all eight clubs together for this
    soccer festival.

    The inter-continental event will take place every two
    years and will change locations each time.

    The soccer world governing body FIFA approved this event
    thanks to a personal effort by Pele.

    "When I talked with Mr. Blatter, then I explained to him,
    the level of the tournament, the higher quality of the
    tournament, the purpose of the tournament, then the president,
    he said "okay, I'm gonna approve this," Pele told the news
    conference.

    "This is the only one tournament approved from FIFA now.

    Maybe in a future, it doesn't have an opportunity to see
    another small tournament, like we used to have all over the
    world."
    The 62 year-old Braziilian said he would continue working
    for the world peace.

    "I think I'm gonna stay ten years, if I have to stay ten
    years to organize and to talk with people all over the world,
    to talk about the peace. This is the main point of this
    tournament," he said.


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