Xi Jinping plays keepie-uppie in Dublin, Feb. 9, 2012. (Photo/Xinhua)

China's president, Xi Jinping, is well known as an enthusiastic football fan, something he is never shy to mention on public occasions and overseas visits.

In July 2011, when the then vice president met South Korean dignitaries in Beijing, he was presented with a football signed by the former ROK national team captain and Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-sung. Xi expressed during the meeting his now famous three wishes for Chinese football — that the national team will again qualify for a World Cup (they have appeared only once, in Japan/Korea 2002), that China will host a tournament and finally that China can one day become world champions.

In February 2012, Xi showed off some soccer skills during his visit to Dublin, Ireland. On a visit to Mexico in June 2013, Xi again proclaimed himself a hardcore football fan and praised the efforts Chinese football has made, again lamenting that national team has only made it to the World Cup finals on one occasion.

In October 2013, Xi made a football analogy at the unofficial APEC meeting in Bali, Indonesia. The success of a football team, Xi said, relies not so much on the player's individual skill but rather their collective teamwork.

Xi's personal background tells something of his love for the game he used to play in junior high. But his desire for football to grow stronger in the country goes beyond his personal fondness for the sport.

Football is truly the global sport, played and watched all over the world. Through presenting himself as a football fan and pushing to make China a football country, Xi has subtly brought China into the global network of football diplomacy even though the national team has a long way to go. This is reflected in the fact that Xi has been invited to attend the final of this year's tournament at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro on July 13.

Xi is also following a tradition of the Communist Party leadership in treating sport as a way to bring the country together and boost national morale. Former leaders Mao Zedong, Liu Shaoqi, Zhou Enlai and Deng Xiaoping all played or otherwise enjoyed football.

It is no surprise then that a comic called Dada and Football released by Xinlian, an online discussion platform, has proven a huge hit. Dada, or Xi Dada, is an internet nickname for Xi. Dada is drawn as a cute figure, with a small body but exaggerated facial features and a friendly smile.

The first series shows Xi staying up late to watch the World Cup. The second series, playing on Xi's anti-corruption campaign in both politics and professional football, portrays Xi as a goalkeeper and a referee. The third and the fourth series tackle with Xi's famous three wishes for Chinese football.

References

Xi Jinping　　習近平

Mao Zedong　　毛澤東

Liu Shaoqi　　劉少奇

Zhou Enlai　　周恩來

Deng Xiaoping　　鄧小平

文章引用來自http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20140703000078&cid=1101