Wushu, Again, Knocks at the Olympic Door

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, April 29, 2002

Wushu, Again, Knocks at the Olympic Door

Chinese took the opportunity on Monday to ask the International Olympic Committee's Coordination Commission to consider their strong desire of including Wushu into the 2008 Olympic program.

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Chinese took the opportunity on Monday to ask the International Olympic Committee's Coordination Commission to consider their strong desire of including Wushu into the 2008 Olympic program.

Liu Qi, mayor of Beijing and president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG), told the Coordination Commission, headed by Hein Verbruggen on an April 28-May 1 visit to Beijing, that he firmly believes "Wushu, a sport that has strong appeal both in the East and West, will add more glamour to the Olympic Games."

Wushu derives from a wide variety of ancient Chinese martial arts with distinctive background of oriental culture. It can be traced back to 3,000 B.C., and has a unique sport and health value.

BOCOG Sports Department deputy director Zhang Qiuping said in his presentation that the Chinese want to "leave a rich legacy" of this oriental sport to the Olympic Movement.

"We have never forgotten our promise to the IOC and the world that we will stage one of the best ever Olympic Games in 2008, and leave a rich legacy to the Olympic Movement and our future generations," Zhang said.

"What do we have in our contribution to the Olympic Movement? It is Wushu, an oriental sport," he continued.

Wushu, born in China, has spread across the world over the last century and is popular and practiced by the peoples of different cultures. It is estimated that there are nearly 100 million people from around the world practicing Wushu as a sport.

Since the founding of the International Wushu Federation in 1990, 86 affiliated member associations from five continents have joined the oriental sport's family. Six world championships have been staged and the sport has already been included in the Asian Games since 1990.

"Wushu exceeds national boundaries as one of traditional folk sports. Wushu fans from all over the world come together, talk about Wushu, explore its sport value and moral conception to educate young generation," Zhang quoted former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch.

"We strongly believe that the integration of Wushu into the Olympic program will not only promote a blending of cultures, but also help bring an oriental philosophical essence into the Olympic Movement," he added.

Beijing promised to the Coordination Commission that any of the existing university gymnasiums with their seating capacity over 4, 000 is ready to stage the competition, but also noted that IOC has the final say to the acceptance of any new sport.

Yuan Weimin, president of the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC) and executive president of the BOCOG, echoed Liu and Zhang's voices by saying that "the COC has the strong desire that Wushu, a sport that represents Chinese and Oriental sport and culture, be included onto the sports program for the 2008 Olympic Games."

"It is our sincere hope that we can have the understanding and assistance from the IOC Coordination Commission in this regard ( that Wushu enters the Olympics)," Yuan concluded.

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