Over the weekend, Chelsea Football Club's iconic sea of blue engulfed Southwest China's Chongqing, as the team's international fan engagement program passed through the municipality. Numerous Blues fans turned out to see retired soccer legend Gianfranco Zola, who made an appearance. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Over the weekend, Chelsea Football Club's iconic sea of blue engulfed Southwest China's Chongqing, as the team's international fan engagement program passed through the municipality. Numerous Blues fans turned out to see retired soccer legend Gianfranco Zola, who made an appearance.
During Zola's first visit to Chongqing, he explored the downtown area and sampled local food. "Chongqing is a beautiful city with very good vibes, full of people and bustling with life, which I enjoy," Zola said.
The soccer star expressed excitement for the burgeoning grassroots football movement in China. "I know there are a lot of Chelsea and football supporters here, and I'm very pleased to interact with them," he said. "I hope that this interaction can be productive for the young players over here."
Over the weekend, Chelsea Football Club's iconic sea of blue engulfed Southwest China's Chongqing, as the team's international fan engagement program passed through the municipality. Numerous Blues fans turned out to see retired soccer legend Gianfranco Zola, who made an appearance. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Emphasizing the unifying power of sports, he noted, "Sport, in general, not only football, is an incredible way to bring different cultures and ways to think together."
Born in 1966, the Italian athlete's career was filled with success. In addition to multiple cups, he was voted Chelsea's greatest player ever in 2003.
Saturday's event featured a range of interactive activities, including a Q&A session with Zola, soccer games, and chances for fans to win signed merchandise and take photos with the Premier League trophy. An exclusive watch party for Chelsea's Premier League match against Brentford added to the excitement.
Over the weekend, Chelsea Football Club's iconic sea of blue engulfed Southwest China's Chongqing, as the team's international fan engagement program passed through the municipality. Numerous Blues fans turned out to see retired soccer legend Gianfranco Zola, who made an appearance. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
The Chongqing event follows a successful engagement in Shanghai last season, where hundreds of Blues fans gathered for a weekend of legend meet-and-greets, interactive games, and live match screenings.
The program was presented in cooperation with Chelsea's Official Global Partner, Linglong Tire, a Shandong-based tire manufacturer.
Over the weekend, Chelsea Football Club's iconic sea of blue engulfed Southwest China's Chongqing, as the team's international fan engagement program passed through the municipality. Numerous Blues fans turned out to see retired soccer legend Gianfranco Zola, who made an appearance. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Over the weekend, Chelsea Football Club's iconic sea of blue engulfed Southwest China's Chongqing, as the team's international fan engagement program passed through the municipality. Numerous Blues fans turned out to see retired soccer legend Gianfranco Zola, who made an appearance. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Over the weekend, Chelsea Football Club's iconic sea of blue engulfed Southwest China's Chongqing, as the team's international fan engagement program passed through the municipality. Numerous Blues fans turned out to see retired soccer legend Gianfranco Zola, who made an appearance. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Over the weekend, Chelsea Football Club's iconic sea of blue engulfed Southwest China's Chongqing, as the team's international fan engagement program passed through the municipality. Numerous Blues fans turned out to see retired soccer legend Gianfranco Zola, who made an appearance. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Over the weekend, Chelsea Football Club's iconic sea of blue engulfed Southwest China's Chongqing, as the team's international fan engagement program passed through the municipality. Numerous Blues fans turned out to see retired soccer legend Gianfranco Zola, who made an appearance. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Over the weekend, Chelsea Football Club's iconic sea of blue engulfed Southwest China's Chongqing, as the team's international fan engagement program passed through the municipality. Numerous Blues fans turned out to see retired soccer legend Gianfranco Zola, who made an appearance. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
