Macau Poker Event Sends Invitation To Michael Phelps

Champion swimmer has been invited to attend poker festival in Macau.

The Asian Poker Tour (APT) has formally invited Olympic swimming champion to take part in its Macau event next week.

Phelps, who recently claimed five gold medals at the World Aquatic Championships in Rome to add to the eight he won at the Beijing Olympics last year, has previously stated his ambition to become a professional poker player.

Now the APT is hoping to secure his presence at the Macau Festival by publishing an open letter to the 24-year-old athlete.

It reads: "Last year you were in Beijing for the Olympics and we encouraged you to head down to the APT Macau event at the StarWorld. We heard positive noises but there was no sign of the human dolphin when they called 'shuffle up and deal.

"We would like to extend this invite once again to you to come, all expenses paid, and take part in this showpiece poker event."

The APT Macau Festival takes place at the Galaxy StarWorld Hotel & Casino from August 12th to 23rd.

Phelps set a new world record of 1min 51.51sec in the final of the 200m butterfly event in Rome last week.