This archive report was first published on 23 June 2020.
On June 23, 2020, Borussia Dortmund, the German Bundesliga runners-up, announced plans to replace their cancelled trip to Asia with a virtual tour of online events in August.
The trip, initially scheduled for the end of the European season, was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Dortmund, which has club offices in Shanghai and Singapore, aims to offer Asian fans the chance to meet the players online and watch live-streamed training sessions held in Germany.
The virtual tour will include a series of events at venues across Asia, subject to local restrictions due to COVID-19. Dortmund also plans to hold live-streamed training sessions with Chinese commentary and an on-site reporter who will quiz players in an online meet-and-greet.
According to Carsten Cramer, Dortmund's manager director, the idea of a virtual tour arose after many fans and partners in Asia approached the club about an alternative to the original trip. 'This gave rise to the idea of Dortmund, in close cooperation with our offices in Singapore and Shanghai, being sent digitally to Asia,' Cramer said.
