外媒報道，2018年俄羅斯世界杯接待服務套餐發售經紀商盛開體育稱，預計中國球迷將購買5萬份總價值2500萬美元（約合人民幣1.7億元）的接待服務套餐，前往俄羅斯觀看世界杯。這一預估數字在中國隊未參加的歷屆世界杯中是最高的。原因主要是中國人對足球的興趣與日俱增，且中俄兩國睦鄰友好，前往俄羅斯觀賽更方便。

Chinese fans are expected to travel to the 2018 World Cup finals in record numbers with the growing interest in soccer and a cordial relationship with hosts Russia seen as key factors, despite the national side's failings on the pitch.
盡管中國足球隊在賽場上屢屢失利，但去現場觀看2018世界杯總決賽的中國球迷人數仍有望創下紀錄。這主要是因為中國人對足球的興趣與日俱增，而且中國與東道主俄羅斯關系友好。

China have only played at one World Cup, but Feng Tao, chief executive officer of marketing and events firm Shankai, believes fans will flock to Russia regardless.
中國隊只打進過一次世界杯。但市場營銷與活動公司盛開體育的首席執行官馮濤認為，即便如此，中國球迷還是會涌入俄羅斯。

"We are confident we can bring more fans to Russia because of the relationship between Russia and China," said Feng, whose company has signed an exclusive deal with BH Hospitality to sell travel packages for the tournament to the Chinese market.
盛開體育已經與BH Hospitality簽訂了一項向中國市場出售世界杯旅游套餐的獨家協議，馮濤表示：“我們相信，憑借著中俄兩國的關系，我們可以將更多中國球迷帶到俄羅斯?！?/p>

"The countries are very close, it's much easier to go to Russia than it was to go to Brazil, which took 24 or 25 hours, or to South Africa, which took 14 or 15 hours. To go to Russia takes only seven hours from China, so it's easier.
“這兩個國家離的很近，去俄羅斯比去巴西容易得多。從中國到巴西要花24-25小時，到南非要花14-15小時，而到俄羅斯只需7小時，這方便多了。

"Historically, there's a good relationship between China and Russia and now football has become part of the mentality of the Chinese people. Businessmen, the media and fans are showing strong interest in the World Cup.
“從歷史上看，中俄兩國關系友好，而當下足球已經走入中國人的精神世界。企業家、媒體和球迷都對世界杯表現出濃厚的興趣。

"Until now, the majority have only been able to follow the World Cup on television but now there's going to be the opportunity for them to travel to watch and for them to see a World Cup."
“目前，大多數人只能在電視上觀看世界杯，但他們現在將有機會親臨現場觀賽。”

While the figures are unlikely to eclipse the numbers who travelled to South Korea to watch China play in 2002 - as many as 100,000 were believed to have seen the side's World Cup debut - Shankai are expecting 50,000 packages to be sold to Chinese fans as part of the expected $25 million deal.
雖然這次的觀眾人數不太可能超過2002年赴韓觀看中國隊比賽的人數——據信當時有10萬國人在現場觀看了中國隊的世界杯首秀——盛開公司預計向中國球迷出售5萬份套餐，交易額有望達到2500萬美元（約為人民幣1.7億元）。

The projected figure represents the most for a World Cup that does not feature the Chinese team, a significant upswing on the numbers sold for the 2014 World Cup finals, when 3,000 packages were sold.
這一預估數字在中國隊未打進的世界杯中是最高的一屆，相比2014年世界杯決賽的銷售數據出現顯著提升，當時售出了3000份套餐。

PASSIONATE FANS
熱情的球迷

"The fans who went to Brazil were spending more money," says John Parker, managing director of BH Hospitality.
BH Hospitality的總經理約翰?帕克稱：“去巴西看球的球迷們花的錢更多?！?/p>

"But what we are seeing in China is that they are waking up to the passion of sport and, because of the internet especially, they are now able to access everything they require and they are comfortable doing that.
“但我們從中國看到的是人們對體育的熱情正在蘇醒，特別是因為互聯網，他們現在可以接觸到任何他們想要的東西，而且愿意這么做?！?/p>

"Tourism between Russia and China is very strong and the Chinese population is falling in love with soccer.
“俄羅斯和中國之間的旅游業很發達，而中國人開始愛上足球運動?！?/p>

"The World Cup is the highest point of the game and Chinese fans will be able to go to Russia without any problems because the relationship between the two countries is so strong and healthy.
“世界杯是足壇的巔峰賽事，中國球迷將可以毫不費勁地來到俄羅斯，因為兩國的關系是如此緊密和良好?！薄?/p>

"China is going to be a growth market. It's already developing from where it was historically."
“中國將是一個擴張的市場。它已經走出歷史，向前邁進了?！?/p>

英文來源：路透社
翻譯&編輯：董靜
審校：丹妮