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china sport money
China to spend more money on winter sports
www.chinaview.cn 2006-02-26 22:18:41
TURIN, Feb. 26 (Xinhuanet) -- Excited with the gains in the Turin Olympics,
Chinese officials said here Monday that the country would spend more money to
develop winter sports.
"Our achievements in the Turin Games are a big encouragement. We will strengthen
the disciplines we are traditionally strong at and try to make breakthroughs in
the weak ones," Xiao Tian, deputy chef-de-mission, said at a press conference.
China won two golds, four silvers and five bronzes in Turin, achieving its best
ever results in the Winter Games.
While declining to disclose the government's budget in winter sports, Xiao said
he believed more money will come from the private sector.
Xiao noted company sponsorship and sports lottery had been important financial
sources for China's winter sports. "Our athletes' performance in Turin will help
us forge partnership with more international and domestic companies," he said.
But the sports official also hinted that the dominant position of summer sports
in China will not be changed.
"China is still a developing country, which means our ability to develop winter
sports is still limited."
Despite improved performance in the Games, Cui Dalin, another chef-de-mission,
said China still lagged behind many countries, especially in the classical
winter sports including Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, and middle-long
distance speeding skating.
"We are only competitive in the limited number of events," he said. China's two
gold medals were obtained in women's 500m short-track speedskating and men's
freestyle aerials.
"China isn't a heavyweight in winter sports, which was a result of China's
social and economic development as well as that of weather and geographical
conditions," he said.
"The Turin Olympics made us further realize that to develop winter sports is a
long-time and arduous task," he said. Enditem
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