Youth football in China received a boost when Coca-Cola announced a partnership agreement with FIFA, the world's governing footballing body.
The partnership will extend Coca-Cola's long- term commitment and support of football until 2006.
The eight-year agreement includes sponsorship of the 2002 and the 2006 World Cup tournaments.
'By pledging support to FIFA for the next eight years, we are guaranteed a solid working relationship to help train China's youth up to world-class levels,' Coca-Cola China Ltd president John Farrell said.
Coca-Cola's major football development programme is the international Coke-Go For Goal, aimed at providing opportunities for youngsters to receive formal coaching.
Launched in China in 1986, the long-term programme is conducted through schools by training physical education teachers as coaches.