对于中国球迷而言，接触大力神杯可以说是在接触一个遥不可及的梦想。大力神杯在中国媒体前首次亮相时，大力神杯的使者、国际足联新闻官马拉达斯透露了一个重大喜讯，中国有机会申请2018年世界杯，并且获胜机会很大。他说：“国际足联主席布拉特先生曾以个人身份多次表示，中国应该申办2018年世界杯。”但中国是否会申办2018年世界杯，中国足协的官员们目前都矢口否认。也有一种说法，在2008年北京奥运会后，将借着奥运东风，中国也有可能申办2018年世界杯。

Nan Yong, vice president of the China Football Association, poses next to the FIFA World Cup trophy on display in Beijing March 14, 2006. The trophy is on its inaugural journey to 31 cities in 29 countries ahead of the 2006 World Cup which begins June 9 in Germany. As the World Cup trophy arrived in China this week on a global exhibition circuit, sentiment is high in the country for the economic and sports power to bid for the 2018 World Cup. A report from Sports Sina, China's leading online sports media, has confirmed the country's resolution to bid for the 2018 World Cup, citing sources inside the CFA (Chinese Football Association). "This is China's maiden involvement in bidding for the World Cup, and the CFA is making active preparations," read the report, adding, "China is very likely to win out in the competition if all factors are taken into consideration." The report drew wide attention in a nation that craves for football success despite a long list of flops in international tournaments. "China's decision to bid comes from three aspects: support from FIFA chairman Sepp Blatter; support from China's top sports administration; and the experience the country will gain after the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games," the report continued. However, a contradictory report appeared the same day on the same site, cooling off the flaring-up sentiment by citing a top CFA official. "I have yet to hear of this (bidding for the tournament). The decision to bid for the World Cup is not something someone inside FA could make," said Nan Yong, vice president of the CFA. "It is up to China's sports administration or even higher up in the government." FIFA president Sepp Blatter has thrown his support behind China hosting the soccer World Cup after the country successfully hosted the Asian Cup in 2004. But Blatter added: "Since FIFA has ruled in 2002 that the World Cup will be rotated among the six continents, it will be a while before China could stage the World Cup." FIFA officials have suggested that China's growth as an economic super power makes the country a firm favorite to stage the next World Cup to be held in Asia, probably in 2018. (Agency)

Vocabulary:

World Cup trophy: （大力神杯） global exhibition circuit:（环球之旅） bid for: （投标，申办） maiden: first（首次的） flop: failure（失败） stage:（筹办，举办）