With the World Cup behind us and Argentina’s nail-biting win, followed by Lionel Messi’s announcement he will not retire after all, so attention here in Nanjing turns back toward the footballing legend’s theme park, the Messi Experience Park.
However, the project has been a long time in the works, 5 years in fact. It was back in October of 2017 that plans were initially announced for the Messi Experience Park (MEP) in the Southern Capital.
然而，这个项目已经酝酿了很长时间，事实上已经有5年了。早在 2017 年 10 月，南部首都梅西体验公园 (MEP) 的计划就已初步公布。
Back then, it was said that the project’s backers, MediaPro Exhibitions, Phoenix Group and Leo Messi Management, would invest ¥1.3 billion in the design, development and construction of the MEP.
当时有消息称，该项目的支持者MediaPro Exhibitions、凤凰集团和Leo Messi Management将投资13亿日元用于MEP的设计、开发和建设。
While 2020 was slated as target for the Park’s opening and there appears to have been no change to this commitment, the question is why the delay? The answer by now is obvious; COVID.
虽然公园定于 2020 年开业，而且这一承诺似乎没有改变，但问题是为什么要推迟？现在答案已经很明显了；冠状病毒。
When the MEP does reach fruition, however, visitors will be in for quite a treat. Therein, approximately 20 attractions, including robotics with audiovisual productions, virtual reality and mixed reality, synthetic characters and holographic technology. Performing arts events will bring a touch of dynamism, with permanent shows and itinerants. Then there will also be a gastronomy area and a hotel and, oh yeah, a football field.
然而，当欧洲议会取得成果时，参观者将会大饱口福。其中大约有20个景点，包括视听产品机器人、虚拟现实和混合现实、合成角色和全息技术。表演艺术活动将带来活力，永久的表演和巡回表演。然后还将有一个美食区和一家酒店，哦，是的，还有一个足球场。
As to the unusual design of the MEP, inspiration was in fact drawn from one of Messi’s most famous goals, that scored against Getafe, in which he took the ball from the middle of the pitch and dribbled past half of the opposing players.
至于MEP的不同寻常的设计，其灵感实际上是来自梅西最著名的进球之一，即对阵赫塔菲的比赛中，他从球场中间拿球，带球过掉了对方一半的球员。
David Xirau is Director of MediaPro Exhibitions. He says that the park is intended to be a tribute to football in general, not only a homage to Messi.
David Xirau 是 MediaPro Exhibitions 的总监。他说，该公园旨在向整个足球致敬，而不仅仅是向梅西致敬。
As Sportsmanor.com reported last week, Xiarau said, “In China, football is growing at an exponential rate, encouraged by the authorities. Nanjing is the football capital here”.
正如 Sportsmanor.com 上周报道的那样，夏劳表示，“在中国，在当局的鼓励下，足球运动正在呈指数级增长。南京是这里的足球之都”。
Nanjing makes for a fitting home for the MEP
南京为环保部打造合适家园
He has a point. Local government is fond of saying, “Nanjing people have sport in their blood”, and there’s an element of truth to this.
他说得有道理。当地政府总爱说“南京人的血液里流淌着运动”，这句话也有一定的道理。
As China.org.cn, notes, “Between 18 and 24 October, 1910, the first Chinese national sports meet was held in Nanjing as part of the country’s effort to participate in and host the Olympics at an early date”.
据中国网报道，“1910年10月18日至24日，中国第一次全国运动会在南京举行，为国家早日参加和举办奥运会做出了努力”。
Later, in August of 1924, the All-China Athletic Association was born in our city as the forerunner to the Chinese Olympic Committee.
1924年8月，中华全国田径协会在我市诞生，是中国奥林匹克委员会的前身。
Back with the MEP, of that with his name on, Messi himself said, “I hope to provide [the visitors with an] experience they’ve never had before and to inspire them to pick up the sport early on. Hopefully, they will feel that I am around when visiting the park.”
回到欧洲议会议员时，梅西本人表示，“我希望为[游客]提供他们以前从未有过的体验，并激励他们尽早开始这项运动。希望他们在参观公园时能感觉到我就在身边。”
While the Sportsman.com article also states, “The Messi theme park is set to open soon”, as of today, 26 December, this publication has not been able to source any Chinese media making recent reports as to progress with the MEP. So local fans of international football will need to continue to bite their nails, as to when they might get up close and personal with their hero, or at least that which he represents.
虽然《体育人网》的文章还指出“梅西主题公园即将开业”，但截至今天12月26日，该刊物尚未能找到任何中国媒体近期报道环保部进展情况的信息。因此，国际足球的当地球迷将需要继续咬紧牙关，以了解何时可以与他们的英雄（或者至少是他所代表的英雄）近距离接触。
