A statement seen Tuesday on the American football body's website said the league had decided³ to push back its China debut⁴ -- originally set for August 9 this year -- to August 2009.
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The exhibition game this year would have featured the New England Patriots⁵ against the Seattle Seahawks. The league said it wanted to hone its overseas experience before staging the Beijing game.
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"Chinese fans would be better served if our game in China is played at a later date after we have launched our international series of regular-season games," NFL official Mark Waller was quoted as saying.
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"As a new sport in China, it is critical that we create the best platform for the introduction of the game. We are delighted Beijing authorities have agreed with our assessment⁶ and have invited us to play in Beijing in 2009."
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The league is staging its first regular-season overseas game in London on October 28 between the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants.
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US magazine Sports Illustrated⁷ first reported plans to postpone⁸ the game over the weekend, saying the league decided to wait until 2009, rather than next year, to avoid clashing with the Beijing Olympics.
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Hugely popular in the United States, the NFL has been less successful than other American sports leagues such as the National Basketball Association at developing an international base.
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But the NFL has plans to try to win over Chinese fans and is establishing an office in Beijing, the statement said.