David Beckham becomes ambassador for Chinese football | Bangkok Post: learning

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It is now Ambassador David Beckham. The football celebrity is not representing his country, however. His job is to represent the Chinese Super League and his duties began yesterday in two Beijing schools.

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David Beckham (C) answers questions from a group of pupils at a primary school in Beijing.(AFP, Wang Zhao)

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Ambassador David Beckham

It is now Ambassador David Beckham. The football celebrity is not representing his country, however. His job is to represent the Chinese Super League, which has been hit by corruption scandals and a poor showing by the national team. The Chinese side has already failed to qualify for the 2014 World Cup

Yesterday, however, Beckham said his focus would be on developing the sport in China at the grassroots level. "What has gone on in the past? I am not a politician so I have nothing to do with it," he said.

"I am helping in the education for young kids and young aspiring footballers. It's as simple as that. I am not here to clear up anything. I am here to educate the children and give them a chance of becoming professional footballers."

Beckham, who is known as "Little Becks" in China, also said he was not being paid for his new role.

He looked relaxed and smartly-dressed in a tailored grey suit as he took questions from Chinese school pupils, telling the young audience his favourite Chinese food was noodles and his favourite singer was "Posh Spice" – his wife Victoria.

David Beckham (C) plays football with students during a visit to a middle school in Beijing. (AFP, Wang Zhao)

Beckham will be visiting sport schools and youth football projects in Beijing, the eastern city of Qingdao and the central city of Wuhan before returning to Paris on Monday, officials said. He currently plays for Paris Saint-Germain.

He immediately launched into his duties after meeting journalists, joining in a six-a-side game at Beijing's Number 2 primary school, still wearing his suit trousers and shiny black shoes.

Beckham was mobbed after the game by schoolchildren, with many of the boys wearing football tops from his previous clubs, while screaming girls clutched placards reading "I love you" or with his face imprinted on them.

Adapted from an AFP story.

In the video, you will see much of what you have just read about.

ambassador – (1) someone who is considered to represent an activity, organization, company etc   ตัวแทน, ผู้แทน (2) a senior official who lives in a foreign country and represents his or her own country there เอกอัครราชทูต
celebrity – someone who is famous, especially in the entertainment business คนมีชื่อเสียง
represent – to act, speak or be present officially for another person or people เป็นตัวแทน
scandal – a situation in which important people behave in a dishonest or immoral way that shocks people เรื่องอื้อฉาว
showing – performance, especially how well or how badly somebody/something is performing การแสดง
qualify – to be of a high enough standard to enter a competition; to defeat another person or team in order to enter or continue in a competition  เข้ารอบ, ทำให้มีคุณสมบัติ
focus – the thing or person that people are most interested in  จุดสนใจ, จุดสำคัญ, จุดหลัก
grassroots level – involving the ordinary people rather than their leaders ในระดับรากหญ้า
aspire – to want to achieve something or to be successful ตั้งปณิธาน
simple – easy to understand; not complicated ง่าย,ไม่ยุ่งยาก, ไม่ซับซ้อน
professional – doing something as a paid job rather than as a hobby  ที่ทำเป็นอาชีพ
role – the purpose or influence of someone or something in a particular situation; function or job บทบาท
smart – looking clean and neat; well dressed in fashionable and/or formal clothes เนี้ยบ, สะอาดและประณีต, น่ามอง, นำสมัย
tailored – specially made for a particular purpose ตามสั่ง, ที่ทำขึ้นเฉพาะสำหรับคนใดคนหนึ่ง
audience – the people who watch an event happen ผู้ชม
favourite – something you like the best of all similar things ที่ชอบมากที่สุด, ที่โปรดปราน, ของโปรด
currently – at this time; now ในปัจจุบัน
immediately – happening right after something else with no delay; right away ทันที
launch – to start something เริ่มต้น เริ่มทำ
duty – something that you have to do because it is part of your job หน้าที่,
journalist – a person who writes news stories or articles for a newspaper or magazine or broadcasts them on radio or television ผู้สื่อข่าว
mob – (of a crowd) to gather round someone in order to see them and try and get their attention ห้อมล้อม, รุมล้อม
clutch – to hold something tightly จับแน่น
placard – a large written or printed notice that is put in a public place or carried in a march or protest  ป้ายประกาศ, แผ่นประกาศ
imprint – to print or press a mark or design onto a surface  ประทับตรา, พิมพ์

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