TONIGHT AT Hong Kong Stadium, dreams come true for local football fans, and an audience of millions in 25 countries around the world will tune in to watch Real Madrid play a Hong Kong-China team live on television.
It will be an unprecedented occasion for Hong Kong sports in terms of publicity, and the excitement and positive feeling generated in the 40,000-capacity venue is expected to resonate around the region and bring tourists flooding back to the city, post-Sars. After a muddled start to their visit, Madrid are winning over local fans. Despite the searing mid-day heat yesterday, the 25-man squad - including World Cup super-stars David Beckham and Ronaldo - gave an adoring audience over an hour's worth of photo opportunities during a training session at Hong Kong Stadium.
Around 25,000 turned out to see them do some jogging and stretching and other drills.
The government arranged for a few lucky young children to go on the pitch and meet Ronaldo. The World Cup's top-scorer signed autographs and posed for pictures. Near the end some children, who had lost one or both parents to Sars, took pictures with Beckham.
Security was tight at the event, but that could not prevent a few desperate fans from jumping over two barriers and sprinting towards one man - Beckham. The England team captain was super-cool. When one nimble young fan ducked and weaved his way through security guards, Beckham was lying on the ground near the half-way line, relaxed and nonchalant with his legs stretched out.
With fans cheering him on, the boy dived in front of Beckham and planted a football within his reach. But before he could get his pen for the star to sign it, he was dragged away.
