Fair focus on football legend, young talent

Book lovers busy browsing at the Shanghai Book Fair, which opened yesterday. — Zhang Suoqing

Manchester United fans were out in force yesterday for the launch of the Chinese version of Sir Alex Ferguson's autobiography at the Shanghai Book Fair.

Local fans, many wearing United's famous red jersey, queued for their copies of "My Autobiography" at the Shanghai Exhibition Center.

Organizers said 300 copies of the legendary Scottish manager's book were snapped up within 15 minutes of the launch at 2pm.

The book was translated by contributors to hupu.com, one of the biggest Chinese online sports website, from the English version published last year.

"We decided to launch the book in Shanghai because we know the Manchester United fans here are very loyal," said Qiao Bin, general manager of publisher Beijing Publishing Group.

The book focuses on Ferguson's 27 years managing Manchester United, during which time he led the club to 38 trophies, including two UEFA Champions League triumphs and 13 Premier League titles.

The 73-year-old, who retired at the end of the 2012-13 season, also details working with high-profile players including David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo.

"The book will be interesting to not only football fans but also people outside the football world," Qiao said.

A 17-year-old fan, surnamed Lu, from southern China's Guangdong Province, said he made a special trip to the book fair while visiting Shanghai.

At the end of the launch, the United fans recorded a video as a gift for Ferguson, inviting him to come to China.

As well as famous football managers, the book fair — now in its 11th year — also offers a platform for up-and-coming writers.

It features a special forum of 13 young Chinese writers who were born in the 1990s and who have published titles in a program with the Century Literature Publishing Group to cultivate young writers.

The Shanghai Writers' Association said the forum will be an annual event at the book fair in an effort to encourage more student writers.

Wang Lan, vice president of the writers association, said there is a shortage of talented young writers and more resources should be available to young talent in order to help them establish their own styles.

The book fair also features a forum considering Chinese academic publishers going global.

Zong Junfeng, president of Tsinghua University Publishing House, said Chinese academic publishers should publish internationally more studies and research papers on key technologies in China — such as the country's work on high-speed trains.

The book fair will run through August 19 at the Shanghai Exhibition Center on Yan'an Road. The entrance fee is 10 yuan, (US$1.6) and 5 yuan after 6pm.