Home>>Sports
Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, November 25, 2001

Chinese Sports Chief Calls for Glory at 2008 Olympics

China's sports chief has called on efforts be made from now on for Olympic honors at the Beijing Games to be staged in seven years time.


PRINT IT DISCUSS IT CHINESE SEND TO FRIENDS


China's sports chief has called on efforts be made from now on for Olympic honors at the Beijing Games to be staged in seven years time.

Yuan Weimin, Minister of China's State General Administration of Sports, is in Guangzhou attending the 13-day Ninth National Games.

In a comprehensive interview with Xinhua, Yuan said that China was still distant from top-flight world sports powers, as its limited total number of sports teams, less developed scientific training and shortage of funds for training base construction could tell.

For more and better Olympic results at the 2008 Games than before, efforts should be made right from now on, Yuan said.

Yuan pointed out that China should stick to the policy of "all for the Olympics," and the preparation and staging of the next national games in 2005 should be well arranged for this general target.

National teams should be keystones while reserves including junior teams are to be established accordingly. More talents aged 12 to 17 should be recruited, consistent efforts should be made for bringing them up and more junior competitions be held.

Yuan also said that attention should be paid in such fields as the strengthening of our traditional and superiority sports and events, promotion of sports where Chinese are potential to win international honors, seeking for breakthrough in such major sports as track and field, swimming and aquatic events which Chinese athletes are hopeful to be triumphant through short-term efforts, more solid efforts on such popular team sports as soccer, basketball and volleyball and newly introduced Olympic sports, for planning ahead of schedule and initiative.

Also important for China is to raise management and organization staffs for sporting events and more chances are to be provided for the purpose. Further reforms are to be adopted for the national games and national intercity games and sports authorities at various levels in the country should be mobilized for hunting and bringing up potential athletes and other talents for the national teams as well as for China's preparations for the 2008 Olympic Games, Yuan added.




    Advanced

Beijing Vows to Honor Commitments to IOC

Possible for China's Mainland and Taiwan Province to Co-sponsor 2008 Olympics: Official