Nationals embrace foreigners returning 'home'

Overseas athletes of Chinese ancestry have made their debut at the National Games as China expands its talent search globally for future Olympians.

There are more than 10,000 athletes competing at the ongoing games in Tianjin. But eight have drawn extra attention, not for their athletic achievements, but for their identities.

The eight athletes, who are foreigners of Chinese origin or Chinese citizens living abroad, are the first group to benefit from a reform adopted to allow them to compete at the quadrennial event in Tianjin.