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Bringing home five gold, five silver and seven bronze medals, the Chinese young track and field athletes achieved their best ever results in the IAAF World Junior Championships in Beijing last week. Besides providing a good opportunity for the host country to exercise its youth team, senior athletic officials also believed holding such high-level athletic competitions could help promote the sport in China.

 

"Hosting more such high-level track and field events could help boost interest in the sport and draw the attention from young people to the track and field," said Lou Dapeng, vice president of IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations), the world governing body of the sport.

 

"Arousing the interest of people at an early age could boost the event's fan-base and attract more people to pick up it, which will offer more options for selecting the elite athletes."

 

Since young Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang claimed the gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, track and field has heated up in China. No matter where Liu appears, large number of fans will gather to follow the superstar.

 

Lou believes this "Liu Xiang phenomenon" is a driving force behind the growth of the sport in China.

 

"Generally speaking, Liu's effect is positive for the development of athletics in China," Lou said. "He has aroused more people to pay attention to the sport, which was previously considered dull."

 

But Lou hopes people will love the sport for it's own sake, not only certain stars.

 

"People's admiration of Liu should go much deeper not only admire a person, but also, enjoy the fun of the competition itself," Lou said.

 

"I hope more athletic stars like Liu will come out to help promote the sport."

 

The achievements of the young athletes at the World Junior Championships seemed to increase Lou's expectations.

 

At the Worlds, 18-year-old Huang Haiqiang won the gold medal in men's high jump, Liang Jiahong became the first Chinese man ever to reach a 100 meters final at any World Championships or Olympic Games, and a total of 13 Chinese athletes set personal records.

 

"Those young athletes did well at the worlds this time, such as high jumper Huang, and I hope that at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Liu won't be the only hero of track and field," Lou said.

 

But Lou still admitted that China's senior athletes are not as competitive as the youth in the international competitions and China's track and field is not at the world's top level.

 

"We start the professional training for an individual event earlier than other countries, so our young athletes will always have certain advantages over foreign competitors," Lou said. "But their overall skills are weak, which will cost them in the senior competitions."

 

Among the over 200 associations within the IAAF, China ranks around 20th, Lou said.

 

He also remains cautious about expecting a large-scale medal grab in 2008.

 

"For Chinese athletes, winning medals should not be the only aim at the Olympic Games, and they have to set realistic goals," Lou said. "Being qualified for the final in more events shows great progress."

 

Good rehearsal for organizing

 

Since it is the first time Beijing held such top-level athletics competitions while gearing up for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the World Junior Championships is considered a rehearsal for the operation under Olympic system.

 

IAAF officials have approved the organizing work.

 

"This is the first time we held an event strictly under the regulation of the IAAF, and Beijing's work has satisfied the IAAF officials," Lou said. "They are all confident about the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in Beijing."

 

But Lou pointed out that improvement is still needed in some detailed aspects.

 

"Holding such athletics competitions requires the coordination of all the different components, for example, the stadium's big screen imaging and the radio announcements should be coincide," Lou said. "We still have to improve in this aspect."

 

(China Daily August 26, 2006)