Haizhu district will stage a soccer meet on Aug 19 to promote the general health of its people.

Players get together after a recent match in Haizhu. [Photo/Yangcheng Evening News]

The meet will be divided into a series of 5-a-side and 8-a-side category matches, with the 5-a-side category comprising open, women's and media groups, while the 8-a-side category consists of under and over 45-years-old groups.

According to the nationwide competition rules that will govern the event, participants must be at least 18 years old and cannot be current professional football players.

Haizhu has a long history of football sports and is known as the "hometown of football" in Guangzhou. Over the years, it has continuously developed talented soccer players and since the 1950s, the district has followed a high-quality youth training system.

Moreover, it has sent more than 450 talent to the peak levels of the game, including 16 players to the men's and women's national teams, three to teams preparing for the Olympics Games and 20 to the national youth team. At present, there are nearly 20 players active in professional football clubs at all levels in Haizhu district.

In both the 2017 and 2021 Guangzhou Youth Games football competitions, Haizhu topped all other districts in terms of the number of gold medals and total points. In the recently concluded 2023 Guangzhou Youth Football Championship, Haizhu finished in the top three in all eight categories, ultimately winning six golds, one silver and one bronze medal.

In May 2021, the General Administration of Sport of China announced 101 national county-level football models. Haizhu district was the only one selected from Guangzhou.