Pool stars swimming in cash
The Chinese divers and swimmer received a morale boost for their preparation for next year's Olympic Games on Wednesday when the Chinese Swimming Association signed a mega deal with leading Chinese household electic appliance Midea Group.
The contract makes Midea the official strategic partner of the China Swimming Administration Center under State General Administration of Sport.
Both sides declined to reveal the amount of money involved, but Huang Xiaoming, vice-president of Midea said the sponsorship was a very big one.
"The support is especially valuable as our Olympic preparation is entering a crucial stage," said Li Hua, director of the administration center. "We'll make a good use of the support and make our preparation a solid one."
While swimming has a fat chance to strike gold for China in 2008, China national diving team is only one of two teams that has won gold medals for China in every Olympics since 1984 Los Angeles Games. So far they had won a total of 19 Olympic gold medals.
China Daily
(China Daily 05/25/2007 page22)
