|
Efforts promised for China's winter sports
By Lei Lei (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-02-28 06:07
"Our athletes' performance in Turin will help us forge partnership with more
international and domestic companies," Xiao said. "Company sponsorship and the
sports lottery should be important financial sources for China's winter sports."
He also called on more people in southern China, which has few avenues for
ice and snow events because of the warmer weather, to participate in winter
sports.
"If some cities in southern China could set up ice rinks or indoor ski
resorts and involve more people, the reserve force of the country's winter
sportsmen will become larger," Xiao said.
However, the sports official admitted that the dominance of summer sports in
China would continue.
"China is still a developing country. Owing to our social and economic
development as well as the weather and geographical conditions, it's impossible
for China to devote fully to developing winter sports," Xiao said.
"Therefore, we still lag behind many countries, especially in classical
winter sports including Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, and speed skating
in the middle and long distance events."
With an eye on the 2010 Vancouver Games, Xiao said China would try to learn
advanced training methods from, and draw on the experience of, other countries.
"The Turin Olympics made us further realize that to develop winter sports is
a long-drawn and arduous task," Xiao said. "Since we have achieved satisfactory
results in the foreign-coached events, such as the freestyle aerials and
cross-country skiing, we are considering inviting more high-level foreign
coaches to help us in the future."
Rising young talents
One reason for the upbeat mood among sports officials is the potential shown
by young athletes.
With an average age of 23.05, China sent a relatively young team to Turin.
Nearly a third of the members were making their Olympic debut.
|
