NFL calls off China exhibition game

Associated Press

NEW YORK ― The exhibition game scheduled for China in August was
cancelled Monday by the NFL, which said it wanted to concentrate its
"global resources" on next October's regular-season game in London.

The game had been set for Aug. 9 in Beijing, the second of two
consecutive contests between the New England Patriots and Seattle
Seahawks, who had been scheduled to meet in Seattle the previous week.
There was no word on whether that game will be played.

Although San Francisco and Arizona met in Mexico City in 2005, the NFL
has never played a regular-season game outside North America. The first
will take place in London on Oct. 28 between the New York Giants and
Miami Dolphins, with Miami designed the "home" team.

Mark Waller, head of NFL International, said that game takes precedence,
forcing the cancellation of the first China game, which now is
tentatively scheduled for 2009 ― the Olympics will be held in Beijing
next summer.

"Our assessment is that Chinese fans would be better served if our game
in China is played at a later date after we have launched our
international series of regular-season games and more effectively paved
the way for the introduction of our game into China," Waller said in a
statement issued by the league.

"As a new sport in China, it is critical that we create the best
platform for the introduction of the game. We are delighted Beijing
authorities have agreed with our assessment and have invited us to play
in Beijing in 2009."

The league is currently setting up an office in Beijing.

The Globe and Mail