> 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