China Aims at Upholding Domination at FESPIC Games

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, October 22, 2002

China Aims at Upholding Domination at FESPIC Games

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China, which had dominated the four previous versions, have set a target to uphold their domination at the 8th Far East and South Pacific Games for the Disabled (FESPIC Games) slated for October 26-November 1 in Busan,South Korea.

China declared here on Monday that a 206-member delegation had been formed for the week-long Games in the very same South Korean city that just hosted the 14 Asian Games. This is the largest ever Chinese delegation for the region's largest sporting event for the disabled.

The 140 male and 66 female athletes in the Chinese contingent are from 28 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, with their ages ranging from 13 up to 53 years. The athletes average 27 years at age.

The Chinese are to compete in 316 events of 14 sports including athletics, swimming, table tennis, weightlifting, shooting and judo.

Some 5,000 athletes from 42 FESPIC countries and regions are expected for 525 events of 17 sports set on the Busan Games program.

Ever since China joined in the FESPIC Games Federation in 1984,Chinese athletes had participated in the last five Games, with an increasing number of participants from mere 15 in the 1982 Games in Hong Kong to 195 in the last Games in 1999 in Bangkok.

China had topped the gold medal tally at the last four Games. At the Bangkok Games four years ago, China won a top-ranked 205 golds, 90 silvers and 45 bronzes for a medal tally of 340.

But officials of the Chinese Paralympic Committee and the Chinese Federation for Disabled Persons are looking much forward. "The FESPIC Games in Busan are a good chance for us to get prepared for the Paralympic Games. We are aiming at the Games in 2004 and 2008," said Jia Yong, deputy chef-de-mission of the Chinese delegation and secretary-general of the Chinese Paralympic Committee.

Chinese had impressively improved their Paralympic performance in the past three Games, having steadily raised the overall rankings from 17th in 1992, 9th in 1996 and 6th in 2000.

"We had advantage in some sports and events where we'd been traditionally strong. But in a world changing so fast, we had to face an ever-increasing challenge from others," Jia said. "Compared with world powers, we had much to do to narrow the gap," he admitted.

"Win or lose, we Chinese athletes should give full respect to our opponents, referees as well as spectators," said Guo Min, vice-president of the Chinese Paralympic Committee.

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