As the NFL set to kick off in September, fans – and soon to be fans – of the pigskin game will be pleased to know that NFL China is back with 30 events across 11 cities including the NFL Home Field tournaments in Beijing and Shanghai. For those who want to catch a glimpse at the Vince Lombardi Trophy, then you’re in lucky as it will make its way to China for the first time at the tournaments or as part of the NFL Super Bowl Truck Tour.

In its third season, the NFL Home Field lands in Beijing on September 11-13 (after Shanghai kicks off this weekend) at The Place after kicking off in Shanghai. If you miss out on the September 11-13 then catch it on these other days: October 23-25, November 6-8. For those planning to check out then there will be lessons on passing and agility skills  at the Quarterback and Running Back challenges booths, try out the Combine Zone, and Take photos at different areas. For the rookies eager to known more about the game then there’s Football 101 and Coach Chalk Talk sessions also clinics at NFL FLAG Football tournaments led by coaches.

NFL Super Bowl Truck Tour
This year the truck will make a 12-week tour at local schools, shopping centers, and sports fields in 11 cities. Highlights are the NFL Play 60 Zone where kids are encourages to ditch their Madden video games to get active and move. There’s a chance you might event get your hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

More FLAG Football Categories
Team can register to take part in the official NFL FLAG football tournaments to be held at NFL Home Field events. The categories are 9-12 co-ed, 13-15 co-ed, 16-18 co-ed, 18+ co-ed, and 18-22 University Men. Registration, terms, and conditions can be found here.

This year is big as this will be the 50th edition of Super Bowl check out the on Weibo for the hashtag #超级碗50# as well as the last year Super Bowl finalists New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks club accounts that will be set up.

Watch NFL games live
For non-chinese speakers, if you’re okay with logging on to digital sites such as Sina Sports, Tencent Sports, PPTV, LeTv, iQiyi, BesTV and NFLChina.com then the rewards will be watching 146 games live. For those not wanting to venture to the unknown  then get you Game Pass for English streaming.

All international games to be held in London will be broadcast after last year’s success. There are plans to partner with local venues to have Primetime viewing, this hasn’t been the best in the past but maybe the NFL China team has learned from the feedback.

If you missed out on meeting National Football League (NFL) Hall of Famer (HoF) Joe Montana last year then this year don’t miss out on meeting with yet another 49ers HoF as he tours the city. Who is it? None other than Jerry Rice, yes, Rice will be at the International School of Beijing on Saturday November 15, for a meet and greet with the wider Beijing community as this is a public event followed by a cocktail reception at the Kerry Hotel. Then at the Beihai University grounds on Sunday, November 16 1-8pm for the NFL China Home Field City Finals.

On Thursday November 18, Rice will be at the US Embassy Press Event for the International Education Week to talk about this university days, the struggles and the triumphs.

Then heads down to the southern city of Shanghai to be the special guest at the University Bowl VI on November 22-23.

Rice is considered on the greatest NFL players to ever play (American) football who played 20 seasons as a wide receiver with different teams. The longest stint in his career was with the 49ers and was teammates with last year’s special guest star-Montana. He will be on site having meet-and-greets with the fans and leading on-field clinics.

This is a chance to get a signed autograph with him and probably give that to one of the few sports friends for Christmas or just sell it to raise money for the Christmas gift giving fund (I have one as coming from a large family this needs to be saved over the year).

As the NFL season continues to shape up for the playoffs, Rice’s visit is aimed at making the sport more popular in China. Each season something new is added to the Home Field such as a Tour Bus that had people given the opportunity to buy authentic NFL merchandize.

Photos: Erik Daniel Frost, Anthony Quintano (flickr)

The NFL- National Football League- has a few activities lined up to whet the appetites of Beijing’s football lovers. The return of NFL Home Field is one of those family friendly activities. In its second year, the flag football games will kick off on the weekend of September 13-14 all in Beijing’s Haidian University area with teams from Shanghai and Guangzhou getting in on the action. Just like last year, this year’s season ends with a host of yet-to-be confirmed stars making an appearance at the University Bowl at Shanghai Luwan Stadium on November 22 and 23.

Expect a little pomp and flair for sure at the games, with a little tailgating to get the whole experience. The fans of the game can get to try out at the Nike Pro Training Football Challenge before kickoff, watching tackle games featuring teams from the American Football League China (AFLC) in all three cities, and other numerous activities. But that’s not all from the NFL this year…

They are bringing a large-scale truck tour that will bring a mobile audio/visual NFL experience to at least 10 cities around the country, this initiative is dubbed NFL on Tour. It features exclusive NFL Films video and sound experience, on-site interactive games, a chance to try on official equipment and an NFL China pop-up shop featuring official team gear. This launched on Saturday, August 30 at People’s Park in Shanghai, and will be headed to Beijing on September 21, September 27, and October 1.

For more information, visit the NFL China’s website.

Photos: courtesy of NFL China

With the NFL division playoffs set for this coming weekend, beer is chilling and hot dogs starting to grill for 2014 Super Bowl parties (despite no tailgating at the Super Bowl). This year’s NFL championship, to be held in the New Jersey/New York area for the first time, will be broadcast live in the early hours of Monday, February 3. The good news is since it’s during Spring Festival, you won’t have to take the morning off from work to see it.

Kerry Hotel Beijing will be hosting the annual NFL live broadcast of the game beginning at 7am. The event features the game, the full halftime show (this year’s artist is Bruno Mars), and all commercials. Full breakfast buffet, unlimited Budweiser, and Super Bowl snacks, like nachos and hot wings, will be served.

Tickets are RMB 300 per person, and RMB 188 for children under 12. Tables are available for RMB 2,880 for 10 people.

The first 50 ticket buyers will receive a free football giveaway. To reserve, call 156 1190 6329, or email: fbreservations.hkbc@thekerryhotels.com.

Kerry Hotel Beijing most recently hosted NFL legend Joe Montana in November, featuring a question and answer with the four-time Super Bowl winner, and a photo opportunity with Montana for everyone who attended.

This post first appeared in thebeijinger on January 9.

Photo courtesy of Kerry Hotel Beijing

Photo courtesy of USAG-Humphreys (Flickr)

The excitement of American football has come to China, and fans are gearing up for NFL’s Super Bowl Sunday (Monday morning live) with the only official party at the Kerry Hotel. Beginning with the pre-party on February 2 at Kerry’s Centro, followed by the big event on February 4 in the Grand Ballroom, this promises to be the best Monday morning ever for football fans in Beijing.

Former New York Giant Jack Brewer is one special guest on hand for the festivities, although his interest goes far beyond the game. Brewer is Founder and Executive Director of the Jack Brewer Foundation, an organization with many facets of charitable work. He partners with several organizations providing support for education and other basic needs in underprivileged areas. One group he backs whole-heartedly is Montessori Model UN, an organization for which he was recently named Chairman of the Advisory Board.

beijingkids sat down to talk with both Jack Brewer and Kerry Hotel Resident Manager Alan Ang about their joint event efforts to make sure the celebration includes helping those less fortunate. Excerpts from Brewer’s interview are below:

Tell us about Montessori Model UN, a charity that will benefit from the event silent auction proceeds:
It’s a UN-based organization, encompassing all of the Montessori schools internationally. We take the top students from all over the world and bring them to the United Nations, honoring them at the general assembly and giving them the opportunity to interact amongst each other. There are kids from all different communities, rich and poor. It’s a great platform for the Montessori schools, which emphasizes a global vision of looking at the world as one and accepting different cultures and communities. 
How does your work with MMUN relate to other charitable parts of your foundation?
It goes right along with what we already do in regards to education. My first attraction to the Montessori schools was when I started making plans to build schools in Africa. We do a series of trips called Global Ambassador trips and during our next trip to Malawi we’re actually going to meet President Joyce Banda about building a Montessori school. I also want to build a university there that teaches Montessori school teachers, who then go out throughout the continent. I’ve tried to always use sports as my catalyst to really teach and educate on various issues, whether it’s education or medical aid and relief, whether it’s peace, culture exchange programs or basic food security. We try to find those issues that really affect people living in extreme poverty.
What is your goal for this fundraiser?
I’ve never been one for monetary goals. My foundation is small and growing, but we take a grass roots approach. Our mission is to empower from within, and so we reach out and build awareness for Montessori schools so that we have something to build off of. Hopefully next year we’ll announce that we’re building a Montessori school free for kids in some of the poor provinces of China. It’s all about getting people engaged and educated on some of these issues. If you keep it simple, you normally accomplish great things, and if you try to shoot for the stars right away, you’re not really doing it for the right purpose. I want it to be real, and I want it to be long lasting, so that’s my goal.
What else are you hoping to accomplish while in China?
We’re also working on some culture exchange programs. I really want to use American football as a vehicle to teach American culture, an exchange of American culture with the Chinese. I’m working with the State Department, with NFL China and with other organizations to accomplish that. We have two countries that are powers of the world, and it’s important that you understand each other. I think that’s really lacking in the U. S., so I’m getting engaged in those activities and I’m putting together my own plans on how I think we need to better teach each other and learn from each other.
Why are these objectives near and dear to your heart?
Education at its core got me where I am. I came from a background of a family and other people who were uneducated. Some of my family members to this day can’t read or write, so being the first to go to college, the first to get a master’s degree, the first to go to an Ivy League school — those are things that helped make me into who I am today. People that are deprived of an education really don’t have a chance. You talk about equality, you talk about human rights — what bigger human right is there than education? To deprive someone who wants to learn is unthinkable, so I’ve always pushed and strived to get as many people as I can access to education who would never otherwise have it.
And your own children?
I have a five-month old son and I can’t wait for him to be in Montessori school! Growing up, I didn’t go to Montessori schools, but in doing research over the past and reading what they’re about, I’m excited about their approach. 
You also have a 14-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter.  How do you instill hard work ethics and morality in your children?
I’m a pretty tough disciplinarian. I don’t sugar-coat things; I keep it real. I do that because I’ve been around, I’ve traveled the world, and I’ve seen the poorest people. I don’t want my kids to grow up with any sense of entitlement. I want them to understand first that through hard work you can accomplish whatever you want; and second, the most important thing is that if you don’t have a purpose in life, you’re going to always be searching. My purpose in life is to leave this place a better place, and I’ve tried to instill those same values in my kids.
Do your kids travel with you and get involved?
They can’t do everything with school schedules, but they do get engaged. I get them really involved in the community with turkey drives to the homeless around the holidays and toy drives for kids, and I had them start their own junior ambassador program at their school. I always encourage them to take leadership roles. They’re just getting to be at the age where they can really understand and appreciate it, but it’s all about exposure. What’s better than them seeing daddy run off and help feed orphans. You don’t need much more motivation than that!
What message do you have for kids today?
It’s a different message for different kids. All of us are born with certain advantages over others. Life isn’t fair in that sense. If I’m talking to a kid who is fortunate, my message would be that if you don’t give back, you’re really not living. I really truly believe that anything that you do, you’ve got to have a sense of giving back to those who are less fortunate. For kids growing up in underprivileged situations, I think setting examples and being a leader in your community is most important. It’s easy to be like everyone else, especially when you don’t have a lot. I just like to tell my story, and hopefully I can find one or two people in those communities and empower them. When they go on to great things, I’ve done my job on this earth.

Kerry Hotel’s Ang explained a little more about the Super Bowl event silent auction, and how proceeds will go towards both MMUN and Children’s Hope Family.

Throughout the event, a fabulous silent auction featuring one-of-a-kind sports memorabilia will be up for bid. Whether you’re an NFL fan, or you happen to enjoy golf, soccer, basketball and more, there is something unique for every sports fan. Also up for grabs? A ticket package to a 2013 regular season NFL game of the winner’s choice, courtesy of NFL China! The auction promises to be a tremendous draw and will no doubt raise generous funding for MMUN and Children’s Hope Family.

The Kerry Hotel has been supporting Children’s Hope Family, an orphanage for disabled children, since 2010, hosting events and fundraising opportunities for the entire community. The hotel staff visits the orphanage regularly so that employees embrace the emphasis of giving back. There are charity drives, toy and clothing drives, and many events throughout the year focused on families and community so that all can work in partnership to give back to those less fortunate. Half of the proceeds from the silent auction will be given to Children’s Hope Family to aid in surgeries and daily necessities.

This spring Kerry Hotel will display an Easter Egg Tree, where children can paint eggs and hang them on the tree. Kerry Sports will launch in May when renovations of their impressive fitness center and gym are complete, and Adventure Zone for kids will open in August.

Reserving your tickets for the Super Bowl event is highly recommended due to limited space. However, there is the possibility for late-comers to enjoy the festivities – don’t not come if you find you are able to make it Monday morning! For specifics, click here.

For more information on the charities, visit: www.jbfworldwide.org, www.montessori-mun.org, and www.childrenshope.org.cn.