China Aims to Break Gold Drought at Salt Lake Games

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, December 25, 2001

China Aims to Break Gold Drought at Salt Lake Games

Torch for 2002 Winter Games Arrives in New York

China won an unprecedented haul of 28 golds at Sydney Olympics last year, was awarded the right to host the 2008 Olympic Games, and qualified for the World Cup soccer finals for the first time.

What next?

It is probably the turn of the Chinese winter sports, which has yet to win a gold at the Winter Olympiad after a string of near misses.

The chance has come as the 2002 Salt Lake City Games will lift its curtain early in February.

"We should keep confidence and try to end the gold medal drought," Duan Shijie, vice director of the State Sports General Administration, said on Monday at a pep rally for the Chinese contingent.

Making its debut at the Winter Olympiad in 1980, China reached a new high in the 1998 Winter Games, bringing home six silvers and three bronzes, but nil gold.

China will send at least 69 athletes to Salt Lake, competing at seven events including short-track speed skating, speed skating, hockey, figure skating, freestyle skiing, biathlon and cross-country skiing.

"We are hopeful to reach the target, much more hopeful than any other previous Winter Olympiads we have participated at," he said.

Gold Jinx?

The gold jinx is likely to be broken in the short-track speed skating, where China has performed impressively, winning 68 golds at the World Cup series and world championships since 1989.

Those who will lead the gold-grabbing campaign at Salt Lake City will be such big names as Yang Yang (A), Yang Yang (S), Li Jiajun and Feng Kai, who have helped China win seven silvers and one bronze at the last three games.

The possibility that China ends the gold jinx is enhanced as the gold medals on offer for the short-track speed skating have increased from six to eight in Salt Lake.

China might also break ground at the pairs competition of figure skating and women's freestyle skiing.

Shen Xue/Zhao Hongbo, which finished third at the 2001 world championships and won two World Cup series this season, is the main weapon for China to strike gold.

Xu Nannan, silver medalist at 1998 Winter Games, will be the biggest hopeful to win one gold at the freestyle skiing event.

But China has played down the gold prospect on these two events, saying that the aim is to keep themselves among the top three.

"Other countries have improved very fast in those events where we hold superiority. We will meet fierce competition at the Games," Duan said.

"Even in the short-track speed skating, we don't have overwhelming advantages over the other world-class skaters," Duan said. "We are facing an uphill battle."

Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympics

The Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympics will take place from February 8th to February 24th 2002. The Paralympics will take place in Salt Lake City from March 7th to March 16th 2002.

The International Olympic Committee awarded the 2002 Olympics to Salt Lake City on June 16th 1995 at Budapest, Hungary. With 15 sports being competed the 2002 Olympics will have more events than any previous winter games. Of special interest, an event from the annals of Winter Olympic History - the Skeleton will be reintroduced after several generations' absence. For the first time Women's Bobsleigh will be a medal event.

The Salt Lake City Olympic Committee is planning for the participation of approximately 2,345 athletes and 1,800 officials from 80 countries - plus the opening and closing ceremonies. A world television audience of over two billion people is anticipated. Of particular impact will be the contribution of over 26,000 volunteers involved in pre-game organization and the games themselves.

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