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MILAN, June 9 (Reuters) - The Italian Super Cup will be played at Beijing's Bird's Nest stadium on August 8, the Italian League said on Tuesday.
Officials had already announced the match between league champions Inter Milan and Italian Cup winners Lazio would be held in the Chinese capital but it has now been decided to use the Olympic Stadium after weeks of uncertainty.
The pre-season curtain raiser will kick off at 8 p.m. Chinese time, eight minutes short of a year since the Olympic Opening Ceremony started in the distinctive stadium.
"The date and time assume an important significance which has been recognised by the Italian league and Italian football," a statement said.
Italian soccer chiefs are playing the game abroad in a bid to increase global interest in Serie A, which has suffered in comparison with the English and Spanish leagues in recent years.
The sale of AC Milan's Kaka to Real Madrid on Monday was another blow to the status of the Italian league.
The Super Cup was due to be played in the United States last year but the plan fell through. It has previously been hosted in the U.S. and Libya.
