November 8: Shenzhen of Guangdong Province has launched a plan to implement its soccer scheme for 2017-2050, which emphasizes the construction of soccer facilities throughout the city.

According to Guangdong Soccer Space and Facilities Plan 2016-2020, every 10,000 residents should share at least 0.6 of a soccer field by the year 2020. However, Shenzhen had 592 soccer fields by the end of 2016, which means that every 10,000 residents share half of a soccer field.

In this regard, Shenzhen aims to make its number of soccer fields climb to more than 900 by 2020, which means the city needs to construct at least 308 new fields, including 52 campus soccer pitches, 246 public soccer spaces and 10 professional soccer fields.   

The plan also encourages certain districts to build soccer fields for hosting FIFA A-level events.

In August, Shenzhen said it will set up a fund for its sports industry with annual reserves of RMB 200 million (US$30m) for the 2017-2020 period.

Source: Sina

Proofread by William Logsdon