Winter Olympians to take home by ice storm

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By Lei Lei (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-12-03 09:43

Turin Games' heroes Ren Hui, Li Nina, Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao will head to Harbin, known for its towering ice sculptures, to spearhead China's assault on the 24th Winter Universiade next year.

Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao, of China, perform their pairs short program at the Cup of Russia figure skating ISU Grand Prix event in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Nov. 21, 2008. [Agencies]

China will send its largest-ever delegation to the colossal sporting event from Feb 18-28 in the capital of northeast Heilongjiang province to help ensure the country's success on its debut as host.

As such much faith is being placed in the hands - or feet - of its Winter Olympians, and with good reason.

Speed skater Ren won a silver medal in Turin two years ago as did Li in the women's freestyle skiing aerials and the two Zhangs on the ice.

China's 347-member delegation has targeted six to eight gold medals for a top-three finish, organizers announced at a press conference Tuesday. The squad has potential winners in six of the 12 sports it will contest: figure skating, short track, women's curling, snowboard half pipe and freestyle skiing aerials.

The last Winter Universiade, which was also held in the Italian city of Turin, yielded three gold medals, six silvers and six bronzes for China to rank it eighth in the overall medal tally.

This time planners hope to see home advantage play a comparable role to that witnessed during the Beijing Olympics in August, when the host captured an unprecedented 51 gold medals, 19 more than at the previous Athens Games.

Its bid to bounce up the medal table in February will be lifted by two rising stars and World Cup winners as well: Lin Jiayu on the snowboard half pipe and men's speed skater Yu Fengtong. All participants have to fall within the 18-28 age range.

China won the bid to host the event in 2005 and preparations began in earnest in Harbin in early 2007. All 51 construction projects, mostly renovated venues, have been completed.

Running under the banner of "Flying Youth" and represented by a cartoon-figure mascot called "Dongdong" (Winter Winter), the Universiade will feature 12 sports divided into 82 disciplines. It will attract more than 4,000 athletes from over 50 countries and regions, making it the largest edition to date.

The ice events will be held in Harbin and snow events at Yabuli Ski Resort (195km away) and Maoer Mountain Ski Field (90km).

"Hosting the Winter Universiade will not only improve the international popularity of the city of Harbin, but will also become a milestone for the sustainable development of winter sports among Chinese students," said Cheng Youdong, vice-governor of the province.

The flame will be lit on Dec 10 at Harbin Institute of Technology and a torch relay held from Dec 20-26 in six provincial cities including Qitaihe, Jiamusi, Qiqihar and Daqing.