This is that letter from the APT.

Dear Michael,

First of all, congratulations on your eight gold medals and world record breaking feats – what a supreme sporting achievement and I hope superstardom treats you well. However, I write this open letter to you to say that I am in a position to add weight to the argument that you should be crowned history’s ultimate sportsman.

I noticed recently that you have told your local newspaper that you were a big fan of poker and look forward to playing again. By a strange twist of fate, I represent the Asian Poker Tour and we are running Asia’s largest ever guaranteed tournament NEXT WEEK in Macau. It starts on the 27th and runs until the 31st and guarantees a prize pool of $1,500,000 and a first prize of $500,000. This is the biggest prize pool ever offered in Asia! While you are already in China, why don’t you give it a go? It would be our pleasure to fly you in, organize your accommodation and buy-you in to the tournament!

Some have said you are a ‘human dolphin’ but we’re keen to know if history’s greatest swimmer is really a fish. You may have feet that can reach angles others cannot to give you the ultimate swimming technique but just you wait until you’ve got sharks like Vegas poker legend Doyle Brunson chasing you. We’ll see how fast you really are then when they smell blood – get some flippers on those size 14’s!

Don’t bring your goggles, bring a pair of sunglasses – dive in at the deep end and we would love it if you showed us your hand. You’ve almost certainly got more chance of making good money from our $1,500,000 prize pool than securing any commercial deals! Your homecoming to a delirious country can wait.

Go all-in Michael! We’ll even get some special one-on-one lessons for you from poker’s greatest players. If it makes you happier we’ll even bring in Mark Spitz too and you can play heads-up! Some have campaigned for poker to become an Olympic sport. The fact that you are a ‘human dolphin’ doesn’t mean you will necessary get a gold medal for Texas Hold’em!

In all seriousness, come join us, you may as well while you are there! We’ll definitely show you a good time and would be honored with your presence. Get the closing ceremony over and done with first though!

Best Wishes,

Jeff Mann

The Asian Poker Tour

If Phelps does decide to head to Macau to play a little poker, then he would be joining poker pros Doyle Brunson and son Todd Brunson, Johnny Chan, JC Tran, Liz Lieu, Nam Le, Kenny Tran, John Juanda, Steve Sung, APT Manila champ David Saab, Mel Judah and Huck Seed. Those guys are definitely "some of those poker guys" that Phelps thought "it would be cool to meet."

They will join several other poker pros, including including J.C. Tran, Nam Le, Quinn Do, APT Philippines champion David Saab, at the Galaxy StarWorld Hotel and Casino on August 27 for the USD $5,300 buy-in tournament, which also offers a $1.5 million guaranteed prize pool.

There will also be a little added incentive for these pros to make the trip as tournament officials have also just announced that there will be a high stakes poker game during the APT Macau. Minimum buy-in is set at HKD $1,000,000 (approximately USD $128,000). The Brunsons along with several other players have confirmed their involvement. The senior Brunson will also be hosting a book signing while in Macau.

Team Bodog is already decked out in Red and Black and headed to exotic Macau to play with some of the biggest names in poker for a chance to win life-changing money, but if you're looking for the next challenge, qualify for the second annual World Series Europe for a chance to be part of the biggest poker series event on offer throughout Europe.

Online poker players' last chances to qualify for the APT Macau through the freeroll series take place at 9am ET, 3pm ET, 9pm ET, 3am ET for the next two days, ending on July 27. The top 25 finishers in each of these tournaments will be invited to participate in the APT Macau Seat Giveaway Finale that takes place on August 2nd. Furthermore, the 1st place finisher will also win T$35 in order to participate in an APT Macau Quarterfinal and the 26th to 50th place finishers will win T$2 in order to buy-into an APT Macau Cheap Seat tournament.

The winner of the APT Macau Seat Giveaway Finale online poker tournament receives the $8,000 prize package, which includes buy-in, return flight and accommodations for the tournament.

There are also regular buy-in qualifiers to the APT Macau available on a daily basis, ranging from the $1 Cheap Seats tournaments to the $300 + 20 Semifinals. Check out the APT Macau online poker qualifier details over at Bodog Poker and make sure not to miss out on the chance to experience the VIP Bodog lifestyle.

How’d you like the chance to win $1.5 million?

How’d you like the chance to play poker at the Galaxy Starworld Hotel & Casino in beautiful Macau?

What if you were able to do both?

Think it’s impossible? Bodog Poker doesn’t. Starting on July 7th, Bodog Poker will be running qualifier freeroll tournaments to gain entry to the Asian Poker Tour’s Macau stop.

These freeroll tournaments will occur multiple times per day for a 21 day period. The top 25 finishers per qualifier then move onto the marquee event, with the top prize being an $8,000 package that includes buy-in, return flight and accommodations!

Here are your qualifier tournament details:

Qualifier Tournaments

Name: APT-Macau Seat Giveaway Qualifier

Dates: Four tournaments a day, every day from July 7th to July 27th

Time: 9am ET, 3pm ET, 9pm ET, 3am ET

Players: 5000 max per tournament

Buy-In: 5 Bodog Poker Points

Prizes: 1st – $35 buy-in to a APT-Macau Quarterfinal
1st to 25th – Invitation to APT-Macau Seat Giveaway Finale
26th to 50th – $2 buy-in to a APT-Macau Cheap seat

Visit Bodog Poker today to find out more about the APT Macau Freeroll Series!