The ceremony marked a grand meeting of footballing celebrities from across the world, with the FIFA delegation and representatives of the participating teams present. Those gracing the occasion included FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter, Chinese Minister of the General Administration of Sport Liu Peng, FIFA vice-president Chung Mong-joon, BOCOG's Executive Vice-President Yang Shu'an, FIFA General Secretary Jérôme Valcke and Chinese Football Association vice-president and general secretary Xie Ya Long.
On the men's side hosts China, who will appear in only their second Olympic Football Tournament, will play group matches in Shenyang against New Zealand, Belgium and Brazil, who are eager to win their first Olympic gold medal. Defending champions Argentina will have to go through Australia, and a pair of first-timers, Côte d'Ivoire and Serbia. In Group B, former champions Nigeria lock horns with the Netherlands, Japan and USA. Group D features two former gold winners, Italy and Cameroon, with both Korea Republic and Honduras more than capable of causing an upset.
Men's Draw results
Group A (Shanghai): Côte d'Ivoire, Argentina, Australia, Serbia
Group B (Tianjin): Netherlands, Nigeria, Japan, USA
Group C (Shenyang): China, New Zealand, Brazil, Belgium
Group D (Qinhuangdao): Korea Republic, Cameroon, Honduras, Italy
On the women's side of things, China were grouped with Sweden and Canada, while defending champions USA have been drawn together with 2000 Olympic champions Norway, alongside emerging Asian powers Japan and New Zealand. Two-time world champions Germany will not have it easy, either, with Korea DPR and Brazil set to test them.
Women's Draw results
Group E (Tianjin): China, Sweden, Argentina, Canada
Group F (Shenyang): Korea DPR, Nigeria, Germany, Brazil
Group G (Qianhuangdao): Norway, USA, Japan, New Zealand
source & photos from fifa.com
