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24 FRIDAY AUGUST 15, 2008 Olympics Yin Jian eyes promotes record gold Qingdao tourism Competition resumes today after By Zhang Ying races canceled due to lack of wind QINGDAO: Enormous num- By Zhao Ruixue college education. bers of visitors from home and "My leg ached a lot, especially abroad are now gathering in the in overcast and rainy days," Yin city of Qingdao on Fushan Bay QINGDAO: With the Olympic recalled. in Shandong province to enjoy sailing competition in full The sport’s post- the glamor of the Olympic sail- swing, the eyes of many are transformation from Minstral ing competition. fi xed on Yin Jian to see if the to RS:X class boats also made “The is Chinese RS:X competitor can Yin waver. injecting vigor into Qingdao’s win the fi rst-ever sailing gold “If I continue sailing, I have tourism industry. The city is for China. to take up a new sailing class. stepping forward to become a Yin is now in a solid first I don’t think it is easy, so I de- prestigious coastal tourism city,” place with 6 points, ahead of cided to retire." said Wang Jiangong, director of Marina Alabau of Spain with But three months later she Qingdao Tourism Bureau. 15 points and Jessica Crisp changed her mind. Using the opportunity of the from Australia with 17 after “As long as the sailing team Olympics to promote its tourism four races. needs me, I will continue sail- industry has become Qingdao’s In her first two races, Yin ing no matter how hard it is. new highlight. staged stunning performances Besides, the 2008 Olympics Statistics show that visitors to for home spectators by leading being held in China is a once- the seaside city have increased around every mark in both in-a-lifetime chance for me,” more than 30 percent annually races. Yin recalled. over the fi ve years since it be- She continued to excel on Determined to give home gan preparing for the Games. day two of racing — winning spectators her best perfor- Last year tourists numbered one and fi nishing third in the mance, Yin trained hard ahead 30 million. fourth race of the competition. of the Olympics. Its May 4th Square is now dot- "Today my racing was not as “Yin is experienced and there ted with foreign tour groups. After good as yesterday, but catching is no big gap between her and watching races at the neighboring up from 11th place to finish European sailors,” said Yao Xin- sailing venue, they often spend third (in race four) was an ac- pei, deputy head of the Chinese their evening at the Beer Street complishment for me," Yin said sailing team. near the square to enjoy Tsingtao after Tuesday’s races. “She has only average per- Beer — a famous Chinese brand “I will focus on the remain- formances in strong wind. But produced in its namesake city. ing races and my physical for a long time, she has been “I really like the city. It’s conditioning will get better training hard to improve her very beautiful. I am happy to and better,” Yin added. skills in strong wind," Yao be here,” Isabelle Finn-Kelcey No doubt Yin has challenged added. from Britain told China Daily. other RS:X sailors. Yin will compete in her fi fth Qingdao boasts unique "Yin is awesome. I had oppor- and sixth races out of the total tourist attractions and historic tunities to beat her today, but 10 that should have been com- culture featuring a blend of it didn’t work out," said Jessica pleted yesterday. mountains, the sea and West- Crisp from Australia. No racing was possible yes- ern-style buildings. Yin has been a hot favor- terday due to lack of wind. The coastal resort offers ma- ite to win China’s first gold The Finn and Yngling classes rine sports, sightseeing and medal in sailing after she have sailed seven races and will vacation tours. took a silver at the 2004 Ath- come out again today, originally The city’s western sector has a ens Games. planned as a reserve day for large number of well-preserved A minor collision with an- both fl eets. Western-style buildings over a other competitor in the 10th It was still unclear if all century old, while its east has round in 2004 dropped Yin to remaining races in each series developed into a prosperous and second place, just two points will be staged today, one day dynamic modern commercial hub. shy of the gold medalist. before the Finn and Yngling The two combine to give tourists a After 2004, bothered by medals are decided. novel experience of enjoying the leg injuries, Yin once had to Oriental and the Occident, the consider whether to continue Agencies contributed to the traditional and the modern. her sailing career or pursue a story Big events and large exhi- bitions such as the Qingdao International Beer Festival, the China (Qingdao) Ocean Festival and China Inter- national Electronics Show also drive the local tourism economy. Tourist information is now of- fered in Chinese, English, Japa- nese and Korean in Qingdao’s major ports, main roads, star hotels and scenic spots. Its hotels include the Shera- ton and Hyatt from US, Kem- pinski from Germany, Sofi tel from France and other world- China’s Yin Jian sails during race four of the RS:X women’s windsurfi ng competition at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in Qing- renowned hotel groups that dao on Tuesday. Inset: Sailors of Laser class compete on Wednesday. Ju Chuanjiang started arriving in 2004. Ambitious British sailors seeking ‘Fragrant’ Swiss Hug medals in all participating events hugged for heartfelt help By Xue Xiaoying for the Olympic Games. Though By Huang Yanhong ISAF World Sailor of the Year in coaches, showing their ambi- I may miss seeing the Games, 1998 and 2002, and four times tion is no secret. my work is a part of the Games, was named UK’s Yachtsman of The British team’s prepara- QINGDAO: With the beautiful and I can learn more about how QINGDAO: “We are looking the Year. tion for Qingdao started two Chinese name Ou Fangxin, Swiss it is organized,” she said. forward to an exciting August Whether he can continue years ago. They have studied national Francine Hug is now a “I like to work with the Chi- here in Qingdao as we try to the feat is one of the biggest the sailing venue’s meteorologi- star in the Qingdao Olympic Vil- nese. Almost everything here is win the top six in each event. questions at the 2008 Olympic cal data going back to 2006. lage for her helpful service. well planned and we have a good Our goal is to win four medals, sailing competition. They have now been in Qin- Fangxin means “fragrant” in cooperation among colleagues.” at least one gold," said Stephen “It’s diffi cult when people just gdao since June. Chinese. After the Games, Hug will go to Park, captain of the British sail- expect you to win and probably “We came here for training Sent by the Swiss Embassy London to study for a master’s ing team. secretly hope that you lose for a every summer after Athens. in China to work as a transla- degree. Profi cient in six lan- Britain has one of the most change,” Ainslie said. “Pressure We are familiar with the wind tor, Hug is a boundless source guages, she wants to work as a powerful sailing teams in Qin- is something you just have to deal and environment here," said Ian of energy, always available and United Nations diplomat. gdao. A total of 18 athletes are with and it doesn’t get easier, but Barker, the British coach of the always smiling. She is also competing in all 11 Olympic it is also part of the thrill of com- 49er class. very modest often saying na li, events. peting at the highest level.” “We have brought our own na li — “you fl atter me” — when They are most competitive was the chefs and the food is brought receiving praise for her earnest in the 49er, Finn, Laser and bronze-medal winner in the here from our country strictly work and fl uent Chinese. Yngling classes. Without an Mistral class in Athens and a according to plans made by our Attracted by Chinese cul- accident they are almost cer- bronze medalist in the Cascais nutritionists to make sure that ture and history, Hug came to tain to be the biggest winners 2007 ISAF Sailing World Cham- dishes satisfy both our taste China three years ago to study in the sailing competition of pionship. As his 28th birthday and body.” as a postgraduate student at this Olympics. approaches, Dempsey said the “Medical has also been well Beijing Language and Culture After the past six competition best present he hopes for is an arranged," he said. University. days, Britain holds the top rank- Olympics gold. In Athens the UK team har- “I really like Chinese lit- ing in the Finn class, a result His girlfriend, Sarah Ayton is vested two golds, one silver and erature, especially poems of registered by veteran sailor also a world-class sailor in the two bronzes. At the 2007 World the Tang Dynasty (618-907) Ben Ainslie. Yngling class — she won a gold Championship, they won two and the four classic novels,” Ainslie, winner of two Olym- medal in Athens. golds and four bronzes. she said. “My favorite is The Francine Hug (left) talks with pic gold medals — in Sydney , another mem- In the 2007 Qingdao Interna- Romance of the Three Kingdoms a sailing coach. Ju Chuanjiang and Athens — and a silver at ber of the British team, also has tional Sailing Regatta, Britain because there are a lot of heroes the Atlanta Games, was also a wish for her 29th birthday. topped the medal tally with and complex strategies in it.” This special supplement is the champion of the 2006 and “The one with a gold medal is fi ve golds and one silver in all Though she works every day co-published by the Infor- 2007 Qingdao International my favorite," she said. 11 events. and doesn’t see the nearby Olym- mation Offi ce of Qingdao Sailing Regattas. “Sail for Gold 2008” em- Tomorrow two medal races pic races, Hug is not frustrated. municipal government and He has won eight world and blazons the name cards and will be held — in the Finn and Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson of Britain set sail “It’s really a challenging China Daily European titles, was crowned clothes of British sailors and Yngling classes. before competing in the Yngling class in Qingdao. Ju Chuanjiang and interesting thing to work