Haiyang invites all to share happiness on the beach

HAIYANG, Shandong - Officials of the 2012 Asian Beach Games organizing committee want to use the event as a platform to host special international tournaments in China.

"The Asian Beach Games is a major continental tournament. But it's different from the Asian Games or other tournaments," said Jiang Xuening, a chief official in charge of publicity in Haiyang, the coastal city of Eastern China's Shandong province, which will host the Asian Beach Games from June 16-22 next year. "With 'Share the Joy' as its slogan, and 'Sand and Sun, Passion and Fashion' as its concept, we want to spread a different idea to Chinese people through these games - it's not about fighting for medals on the beach. It's about how to enjoy yourself as an athlete or a spectator.

"Chinese are used to focusing on gold medals at the Asian Games or Olympic Games. But I hope the media can turn the limelight to a non-competitive angle. I hope the media can tell Chinese people that the beach games are a place where you and your family can find time to relax and also get involved in beach sports," Jiang said.