All of the children from China going to Portugal for the 2018 Playfund International Children’s Cultural Festival pose for a photograph. [Photo/WeChat account of Ordos News]

The 2018 Playfund International Children’s Cultural Festival started in Lisbon, capital of Portugal, on Dec 1.

Sponsored by China Soong Ching Ling Foundation (CSCLF), the Foundation of Portuguese Football Federation and Portugal Sports Foundation, the event was attended by 12 children from China, six of whom were from the city of Ordos in Inner Mongolia autonomous region. 

During the festival, all children will take training courses on soccer skills and knowledge about nutrition and health. They will also participate in various activities as part of the exchange program between Chinese and Portuguese children. 

In recent years, the Ordos government has paid increasing attention to promoting the development of soccer among teenagers. 

In 2016, Ordos held the National Children Soccer Exchange Conference for the first time, which turned out to be a great success. 

Ordos has taken part in national children’s soccer events for three consecutive years. In 2018, the Ordos children’s soccer team became the only one to win the “special contribution award” at the third National Children Soccer Exchange Conference held in Changsha, Hunan province.

Two teachers teach Portuguese to the children who will participate in the 2018 Playfund International Children’s Cultural Festival held in Lisbon, capital of Portugal, from Dec 1 to 9. [Photo/WeChat account of Ordos News]