[Photo/Shanghai Observer]

The fourth Shanghai Citizen Games kicked off with the 2024 Shanghai Citizen's Football Festival at the Luwan Sports Center on April 14.

The event, jointly organized by the Committee of the Shanghai Citizen Games and Xinmin Evening News, commenced by appointing former Chinese women's football head coach Shui Qingxia and former Chinese men's football national team player Xie Hui as the publicity ambassadors of the football festival.

Since its inception in 2014, the annual football festival has provided a platform for Shanghai residents to engage and revel in the joy of the sport. The opening ceremony was followed by the Citizen Football Challenge, where eight teams from various industries, including team Shanghai Star led by former professional football players Mao Jianqing and Zhang Yong, and Dortmund China, comprising foreign football enthusiasts working in Shanghai, competed over two weekends.

In addition to the Citizen Football Challenge, the 2024 Shanghai Citizen Football Festival includes nine other themed activities suitable for all ages throughout the year.

Source: Shanghai Observer