IN BRIEF (Page 23)

SOCCER

Youngsters to train in Italy

Young Chinese soccer players will have an opportunity to receive some short-term training in Italy in the "Splendid Football Program", which was launched last week.

Sponsored by China Netcom (CNC), the program will invite soccer players aged 12-18 from across the country.

Through a selection competition in July, 11 youngsters will win the chance to travel to Italy in October. They will train with local boys there and visit the San Siro stadium, home field of Italian league powerhouses AC Milan and Inter Milan.

The judging panel will include Chinese soccer celebrities such as former national team coach Jin Zhiyang and current team member Cao Xiandong.

MISCELLANEOUS

Omega works on time

Swiss watchmaker Omega participated in last weekend's Good Luck Beijing Athletics Open by testing its timing system preparation for the Beijing Olympics.

Omega is the official timekeeper and data-handler for 28 different sports at 37 venues for this year's Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing. It will bring to the Games 450 on-site professionals, 420 tons of equipment including 70 public scoreboards and 322 sport-specific scoreboards, 175 km of cable and optical fibre, 65 TV generators, and state-of-the-art timekeeping and data-handling technology.

Omega is also the official timekeeper for 2010 Vancouver Winter Games and 2012 London Games.

Sporting goods show in capital

The 22nd China International Sporting Goods Show (China SportShow 2008) will be held at the newly built China International Exhibition Center on the outskirts of Beijing's Shunyi District from May 29 to June 1.

Held every summer and winter, it is now the largest show of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region, displaying the latest sporting goods and brands.

The 22nd edition will feature more than 900 suppliers from some 30 countries and regions.

The show will be divided into seven specific areas: Fitness & Rehabilitation Equipment, Balls & Other, Sportswear, Outdoor Sports, Stadium & Gym, Tennis & Badminton, and Olympic Hall.

International sporting goods giants like Nike, Adidas, and North Face, as well as domestic producers like Li-Ning, Anta, and Double Fish, are all set to showcase their latest and most fashionable sporting goods.

Beijing to host final test event

The marathon swimming tournament, an Olympic qualifying event, will kick off at Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park on Saturday, bringing an end to the Good Luck Beijing Olympic test events ahead of the Beijing Olympics, organizers announced Monday.

Up to now, 42 Good Luck Beijing sports events, customized for the Beijing Olympic Games, have been completed since August last year.

The two-day event, featuring some 72 athletes and 78 coaches and officials from 33 countries and regions, will conclude the Good Luck Beijing events and all preparations will be reserved for the Games in August, said Xin Qunying, vice director of the park.

It is also the first time for the park to hold the open-water swimming competition, Xin added.

(China Daily 05/28/2008 page23)