Xiang Liu of China in action in the heats of the 110m Hurdles (© Getty Images)
During the course of the last week China’s aspirations for increased Olympic success on home soil in 2008 has manifested itself in separate cooperation agreements signed between its National Olympic Committee and counterparts in Britain and Australia.
The first accord, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the British Olympic Committee on Wednesday 27 October and provides for closer cooperation and could involve the sharing of information on sports science and the exchange of coaches and experts prior to the Beijing Games.
This step forward has been followed on Monday (1 Nov) this week with a cooperation agreement with the Australian Olympic Committee. Under the deal, athletes from both nations will be able to train and compete in each other's country.
The new arrangement means that officials, trainers and other experts will also participate in courses and events designed to augment both countries performances, and will stay in force until the end of 2008, well after Beijing's Olympic flame has been extinguished, confirmed the Xinhuanet agency.
China put in their best ever overall Olympic performance in Athens, ending up with 32 golds and 63 medals to rank second to the United States in the medal table. Specifically in Athletics they also topped all previous efforts with the victories by Xing Huina (women’s 10,000m) and Liu Xiang (men’s 110m Hurdles) their best ever showing.
Xiang’s win was the first ever gold by a Chinese male track and field athlete with Zhu Jianhua’s High Jump bronze in 1983, the previous best performance. The Race Walking golds of Chen Yueling (10km -1992) and Wang Liping (20km- 2000), and Wang Junxia’s 5000m win in 1996, were the sum total of China’s victory tally prior to Athens.
China also brought home a clutch of other top-8 point performances from Athens underlining their long awaited but now growing power within the Olympics’ number one sport. The points were accomplished by Yu Chaohong’s fourth place in the men’s 50km Race Walk, Zhun Hongjun’s fifth in the men’s 20km Race Walk, Sun Yingjie’s 8th (5000m) and 6th place (10,000m) finishes in the women’s track distance events, Zhang Wenxiu seventh in the women’s Hammer Throw, and Wang Liping’s brave 8th place defence of her Olympic 20km Race walk title after her return this year from pregnancy leave.
Throw in another three athletes who just missed out with ninth place finishes and Chinese fortunes especially in the women’s category are looking increasingly rosy – Li Yanfeng (Discus Throw), Li Meiju (Shot Put), Xing Huina (5000m).
Chris Turner for the IAAF
