Ü9]abaf_ÜFdqeha[ÜJYadaf_ÜI]_YllY 9]abaf_ Fdqeeha[ÜJYadaf__ÜI]_YllY 24 THURSDAY AUGUST 21, 2008 Rogge: Work ‘outstanding’ in Qingdao By Zhang Ying and Zhao Ruixue QINGDAO: Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), on Tuesday congratulated the city of Qingdao for its years of effort and organization in hosting the Olympic Sailing Regatta. “What you have achieved is outstanding,” Rogge said. The IOC president watched two medal races at the Qin- gdao Olympic Sailing Center and then attended awards ceremonies. Rogge said everyone in Qingdao smiles and works hard, and is ready to help others, making athletes comfortable and happy. After the ceremony, Rogge visited the Olympic Village and Qingdao’s Folk Customs Culture Display. Rogge said it is one of the best Olympic Villages he has seen and matches the qual- ity of the venue and other facilities. He also wished athletes good results in the remain- ing races. Yin Jian, a silver medalist in Athens four years ago, won China’s fi rst gold medal in sailing yesterday in Qingdao, competing in the women’s RS:X windsurfi ng event. Ju Chuanjiang A former Olympic sailor, Rogge said he felt very much at home in the sailing Yin grabs China’s fi rst sailing gold center. World Championships in the Breakthrough shows improvement past two years than all other years combined. but host still has ‘a long way to go’ The effort proved effective for China’s Yngling team, which By Zhang Xiaomin petitive in two Olympic sailing placed eighth in the Olympic and Zhang Ying events now,” said Yao. regatta less than four years “Yet it is quite clear that we after it was established. are still far behind Western Yao said this Olympics QINGDAO: Windsurfer Yin Jian countries,” Yao said. “China’s is a golden opportunity for won China’s fi rst Olympic sail- sailing is just in its starting Chinese sailors to acquire ing gold medal yesterday, hail- phase both in popularity and experience, to communicate ing it as the ultimate reward for professionalism. We still have with foreign rivals and to im- years of battling constant inju- a long way to go.” prove their overall competitive ries and spending long periods Xu Lijia secured a bronze level. What you have training away from home. medal of Laser Radial on Tues- Goran Petersson, ISAF “When the flag was being day, fellow windsurfer Wang president, was impressed by achieved is raised I was thinking about Aichen took 7th place in RS: China’s development. “I am outstanding. the hardship I have gone X men’s class, and the Yngling very excited to see China’s through for this gold medal,” team ranked eighth on the Yin Jian celebrates after winning China’s fi rst gold medal in sailing yesterday. Ju Chuanjiang progress in sailing during the JACQUES ROGGE the 29-year-old Yin said. overall list. past few years. I hope to see IOC President “These past four years China’s sailors in seven “Among the 400 athletes to win medals. We are eager ies. But there are no more than more Chinese sailors show have been a hard time for me other classes didn’t make it to participating in the Olympic to cultivate younger sailors,” 1,500 professional sailors in up in international events,” ... because of the injuries that the medal round. regatta, 317 are from Europe said Yao. China,” Yao said. he said. He led the IOC delegation have affected my training. It’s Among all the nine sail- and America. Sailors from He thinks that sailing’s pop- “Absolutely, China has a large to Qingdao on October 16, a very demanding sport that ing events now completed, Britain, France and US quali- ularity in the past century in Foreign coaches space to develop sailing," Ewan 2005 for the first official requires you to be in perfect Britain won in Finn, Yngling fied to compete in all eleven Europe and the US established China’s sailing program has Mcewan, a National Olympic inspection in the city. physical condition,” said Yin, and Laser, while Australia, events," he said. a comprehensive system to cul- hired foreign coaches in the Committee rules adviser, told Born on May 2, 1942, a silver medalist in Athens the United States and Den- Competitive sailing started a tivate young sailors and further last few years, with more com- China Daily. in Ghent, Belgium, Rogge four years ago. mark divided the other gold century later in China than in develop the sport. ing in the future. Competing in "We can see Xu Lijia is so competed in yachting races China’s sailing team medals. Western countries. China estab- More than a third of Interna- more international events and young. She is under much at the Olympic Games in captain Yao Xinpei, who “Western sailors, especially lished teams in all classes only tional Sailing Federation (ISAF) battling with world-ranked pressure in this regatta. But Mexico City in 1968, Munich was thrown into water by the Europeans, have histori- after Beijing won the bid to host members are from Europe. athletes is proving the best way it will be an advantage if she in 1972 and Montreal in 1976. his excited team members, cally dominated Olympic sail- the Games. “Popularity plays a key role for Chinese sailors to improve, qualifi es for the next Olympics. He also played on the Belgian was quite delighted with the ing. In the last three Olympics, “We only have one or two in the development of sailing Yao said. She will know how to deal with national rugby team, making breakthrough. all Asian countries together classes in which we are com- as a sport. It has caught on in Yao noted that China’s sail- such pressure. If she wants a him something of a legend in “China’s fi rst Olympic gold have won only five medals,” petitive, with not many sailors China’s coastal areas in recent ors have participated in more future in sailing, the future is his home nation. medal here shows we are com- said Yao. and coaches of world caliber years, growing in over 20 cit- international regattas including open to her,” Mcewan said. After his sports career, Rogge studied at the Uni- versity of Ghent and became a professional orthopedic (France) 2 surgeon after receiving his 3. Robert Scheidt/Bruno Prada (Brazil) 3 doctorate in medicine. RESULTS Ashley wins men’s Rogge’s passion for sports 4. John Dane III/Austin Sperry (U.S.) 4 brought him back to an 5. Diego Negri/Luigi Viale (Italy) 5 athletics-related position. 6. Iain Percy/Andrew Simpson windsurfi ng title He became an IOC member (Britain) 6 in 1991 and joined its ex- 7. Fredrik Loof/Anders Ekstrom ecutive board in 1998. He (Sweden) 7 By Zhang Xiaomin Olympics. Ashley received an was elected as the eighth 8. Iain Murray/Andrew Palfrey Olympic-class windsurfer as president of the IOC on July (Australia) 8 a 15th birthday present from 16, 2001, succeeding Juan TORNADO QINGDAO: New Zealand wind- his parents. Antonio Samaranch. Standings surfer Tom Ashley took home Many sailors were selling Under his watch, the 2002 1. Fernando Echavarri/Anton Paz gold in the RS:X men’s class at their boats before they left, so Salt Lake City Winter Games, (Spain) 36 the Olympic sailing competition his parents bought him one. the 2004 Athens Summer 2. Darren Bundock/Glenn Ashby in Qingdao yesterday. “That’s what got me into it,” Olympics and the 2006 Tu- (Australia) 39 “The racing is extremely Ashley explained. rin Winter Games were held. 3. Santiago Lange/Carlos Espinola (Argentina) 44 tight and everyone is sailing at Five years later he made Now the massive Beijing 4. Johannes Polgar/Florian Spalte- a very high level,” Ashley said. his Olympics debut in Athens, 2008 Games is approaching Olympic Star and Tornado class “Events like this generally are fi nishing 10th in the Mistral completion. results and standings after 10 races holz (Germany) 52 in Qingdao yesterday. Medal races of 5. Oskar Johansson/Kevin Stittle won and lost on attrition as windsurfer class. His rapid He noted that there have the two classes take place today. (Canada) 57 guys make mistakes and take progress then continued. By been many achievements by 6. Mitch Booth/Pim Nieuwenhuis themselves out of the running, January of this year, he was the IOC, but further efforts are STAR (Netherlands) 58 so consistency is defi nitely the RS:X world champion, earn- needed to prevent doping and Standings 7. Francesco Marcolini/Edoardo key.” ing the title off the Takapuna excessive commercialization. 1. Fredrik Loof/Anders Ekstrom Bianchi (Italy) 58 France’s Julien Bontemps Coast in his hometown Auck- Philippe Rogge, son of the (Sweden) 33 points 8. Iordanis Paschalidis/ got silver and Israel’s Shahar land. IOC chairman, served as the 2. Iain Percy/Andrew Simpson Konstantinos Trigonis (Greece) 60 (Britain) 35 Race 10 results Zubari took bronze. Winner of Qingdao’s 2007 head of Belgian team during 3. Robert Scheidt/Bruno Prada 1. Santiago Lange/Carlos Espinola The Kiwi showed his ability Olympic test event, Ashley Beijing Games. Not surpris- (Brazil) 47 (Argentina) 1 to perform well regardless of showed his ability to handle ingly, Philippe said he great- 4. Xavier Rohart/Pascal Rambeau 2. Oskar Johansson/Kevin Stittle conditions on August 17 when rough conditions. He also ly admires his father. (France) 51 (Canada) 2 Qingdao had strong winds and realized the need to master “He is an amiable father, 5. Flavio Marazzi/Enrico De Maria 3. Johannes Polgar/Florian Spalte- choppy seas.