China faces uphill battle in 2008 (Xinhua) Updated: 2006-08-17 17:32
GUIYANG -- Chinese athletes will experience unprecedented difficulties in
2008 Beijing Olympic Games, according to a top sports official.
"There are a lot of unfavorable factors though we have the advantages of
competing at home," Feng Jianzhong, vice president of the State General
Administration of Sports, told a national sports conference.
"We have almost delivered our full potential in the Athens Games, and it is
very difficult to make further breakthrough." he added.
China finished second in the medals table at the Athens Olympics in 2004 with
just three golds short of the US, though its total tally of 63 was far behind
the Americans' 103.
Feng called on his compatriots to be rational in judging Chinese athletes'
performance in the Games.
"Judgement should not be made solely on how many medals we win, " he said.
Feng also said China should take the opportunity to get most of the Chinese
people involved in the Olympic Games by regular participation in various sports
activities.
"The priority of staging the Olympic Games is to promote the Olympic Spirits
and help create healthy life style among the Chinese people," he said.
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