Katia Deng/ Shanghai Daily news

Shanghai will host the first round of the men’s football tournament of the 2008 Olympic Games at Shanghai Stadium on August 7 next year, a spokeswoman for the Shanghai Municipal Government announced at a routine press conference yesterday.

The upgrading of Shanghai stadium is expected to be completed this July.

Shanghai has established a committee to supervise the game for the Olympics and preparations are underway.

Local football fans are looking forward to observing the international sporting event which will be part of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The men’s football tournament of the 2008 Olympics will be held in five cities around China.