体坛英语新闻：FIFA President inaugurates AFC Challenge Cup in Nepali capital

KATHMANDU, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The much awaited Asian Football Confederation (AFC) challenge football cup kicked off at a grand ceremony in the Nepali capital Kathmandu on Thursday.

Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and International Federation of Association Football (FIFA ) President Joseph S. Blatter inaugurated the opening match.

"I announce the opening of the AFC Challenge cup - Nepal versus Palestine," announced the Prime Minister upon the request of FIFA president Blatter.

Addressing the ceremony, Blatter said that it is an important day for football in Nepal, for football in Kathmandu.

"The teams of Nepal and Palestine show that in football there are no boarders, Palestine team is welcomed here in this pitch," Blatter said.

He exclaimed that football is more than a game, it is education , it is emotion, it is passion but not only that football is fair play discipline and respect.

"Another matter of football is connecting people," Blatter said.

"As the president of FIFA I wish well to all Nepalese, well to the foot and wish to have wonderful football match today," Blatter added.

Speaking at the same occasion, Prime Minister Babu Ram Bhattarai said that this kind of international sport event will help in enhancing the bilateral and multilateral relationship among the nations.

Including host Nepal, football teams from the Philippines, Palestine, the Maldives and Turkmenistan are taking part in the tournament.

This is the first time that a high level official of international sports has visited Nepal.

In the inaugural match played at the Dashrath stadium, Palestine beat Nepal 2-0.