CHINA DAILY MONDAY, AUGUST 6, 2012 olympics 5

REALITY CHECK offtrack... FOR PHOTO BY ERIC GAY / STAMPS OF APPROVAL

US’ Diana Taurasi Britons are busy celebrating their record Olympic gold medal haul, (12) drives past but some are working harder than others to mark the occasion. Spare a thought for the staff at Britain’s Royal Mail, who are working China defender overtime to rush out special next-day stamps for each of the six gold Ma Zengyu (11) medals won by British athletes on Saturday. The Royal Mail has promised fans that a celebratory stamp will be during their issued within 24 hours of each British gold medal win. group game at the Olympics AT THE GATES on Sunday. Th e US won 114-66. Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates and his wife, Melinda, stopped by Horse Guards Parade on Saturday night to watch Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings dis- mantle the Netherlands in straight sets in beach . Asked what he thought of the Americans’ performance, Gates told The Associated Press: “It was fantastic”. Gates is a bit of a beach volleyball groupie, it turns out. He says he went to see matches “at Bondi and ”. May- Treanor and Walsh Jennings won the gold medal in 2008 in Beijing but were not a team at the Sydney Games, when the com- petition was held at Bondi Beach. They won their fi rst at Athens in ’04. MORE EXPLANATION

The Chinese team on Saturday demanded an explanation from the world cycling ruling body UCI on the relegation of the Chinese to silver medal. The Chinese beat their German rivals in the women’s team pursuit fi nal on Thursday, only to be relegated to second place. The Chinese team reviewed the race video, saying they didn’t violate Bringing it home? Nope any rules of the sport. China’s coach Daniel Morelon said the referees “robbed” his athletes of a gold medal. The Chinese team’s appeal was rejected, and it was fi ned for the Two Chinese weightlifters win gold for intrusion into the referees’ area. Pan Zhichen, the Chinese cycling team chief, fi led a written com- other countries; it’s within the rules plaint to UCI President Pa Maquade on Saturday, demanding an expla- nation on “why the Chinese cyclists were relegated to silver medal”. By CHEN XIANGFENG garian said. “It’s not against the rules Pan said his team would not pay the fi ne, saying Chinese team mem- in London as long as they did not play for China bers were escorted into the referees’ area by UCI offi cials. [email protected] before. It’s not against the rules, and it’s (the nature of) globalization. Like Th e world’s weightlift ing chief said youngsters who were born in Hun- GETTING THERE IS A BEAR he has no problem with young Chi- gary, then they can go to Germany nese lift ers changing their nationality and play for Germany.” An honorary member of the International Olympic Committee, to compete for other countries — as Maneza (whose International Weightlifting Federation president Tamas Ajan, said he’s long as it’s done within the rules. is Yao Li) won the 63kg category, in impressed with the London Olympics by and large but not satisfi ed “If this is the policy of China and if which China did not fi eld a competi- with transportation and the television coverage. China is willing to help other coun- tor. Chinshanlo took the 53kg title, in “I’m impressive by the Games. But there are some problems with tries, (it’s OK), because which 17-year-old Chinese Zhou Jun the transportation.” he said. “There is very crowded traffi c and very China has many young failed on her fi rst three attempts. HASSAN AMMAR / ASSOCIATED PRESS heavy traffi c jams. Yes the organizing committee gave us Oyster cards and talented lifters,” It immediately became a hot topic Gold medal winning weightlifters Maiya Maneza (left) and Zulfi ya so we can use public transportation freely. But you can see we usually Tamas Ajan, the presi- in China — why would the nation Chinshanlo of Kazakhstan are both originally from China. have to walk a long way — about 25 or 30 minutes from the under- dent of the International send such promising young athletes ground station to the venue. That’s a little bit diffi cult. Weightlift ing Federation, said in an abroad? the London Games. always strong in every category. Do “I’m also a little disappointed with the television channels,” he said. exclusive interview with . Chinshanlo is reportedly on a fi ve- Ajan thought China would win not think only China can win. “Usually at an Olympic Games, you can have fi ve or six channels, at “But we have a very clear rule. If a year contract, which will allow her more but still thinks it has performed “Other countries are catching up. least, to watch the Olympic competitions. But I can only have one lift er has competed for one nation in to return to China this year if she impressively. Th e Games are now more competitive. channel in my hotel, BBC1. The problem is it only televises the British international competitions before he chooses. Since China does not accept “I expected six or seven gold for Weightlift ing is spreading all over the athletes. OK, we can watch at the restaurants, but I can still only see or she wishes to change nationality, dual citizenship, even if Chinshan- China,” he said. “But it is still a fan- world. Even very small countries came one channel because everybody is watching the same channel. then the two national federations, the lo claimed her Chinese citizenship tastic result. You cannot compare up to compete here like Papua New CHINA DAILY-XINHUA-AP two national Olympic committees immediately aft er returning to China, it to what happened in the Beijing Guinea, Nauru, Kiribati, Samoa.” and the IWF should all get involved she would still have to wait fi ve years Games. Th at was on home soil. China One of Ajan’s biggest challenges to reach an agreement. before she could represent China in is still very strong. I’m quite optimis- now is finding a way to host more “But if a lift er changes nationality international competitions. tic about the sport in China.” international events so the sport and REPORTER’S LOG | FU JING without any international experience Ajan said competing for China Of course, as the sport’s interna- its lift ers can gain wider exposure. for his or her original country, there could be problematic for Chinshanlo. tional head, Ajan is happy that more “Our players do not have many is no problem for us.” “This is a problem. First, Chin- countries are sharing the gold. events every year,” he said. Douglas’ win inspires a na- Ajan was commenting on Kazakh- shanlo must have permission from He said China is no longer assured “Some of them might have only two stan’s two Olympic gold medalists, Kazakhstan and then there must be of winning every event. or three chances to compete on the Maiya Maneza and Zulfiya Chin- an agreement among the federations, “China has to accept the situation international stage. It’s our problem. If tion, and the world shanlo, who are reportedly originally and Olympic committees and the that more and more countries are you want to make stars and top com- from China. IWF. Th e IWF must be involved.” coming up against you,” he said. petitions, more events and exposure hen 16-year-old Afri- son, Th omas Kirby, Th omas jok- Ajan said the IWF didn’t interfere “Usually, if you see a Chinese are needed. Like Roger Federer in can-American gym- ingly said the gold doesn’t belong to because neither had competed for No sure thing lifter in a competition, boy or girl, tennis, if he plays two times a year, nast Gabby Douglas the US but rather to the world. China. China won eight of the 10 gold you think it’s 100 percent (that they nobody will know him. He has to play W stunned the world Th at wasn’t exactly what I meant. “Actually, I did not hear this before medals on off er at the Beijing Olym- will win). Now, it’s not exactly 100 lots of events every month. Rafael with her extraordinary all-around I admire the US’ gravity, which you told me,” the 73-year-old Hun- pics, but it didn’t repeat that glory at percent. Do not think that China is Nadal is the same.” performance in the Northern Green- enables it to pull in talent from wich Arena last Th ursday aft ernoon, around the world. I was using my long-distance lens to I was surprised by the media photograph every move. attention Douglas received. Friday’s I noticed a middle-aged Chinese USA Today featured her photo on person following her when the Lon- the front page and had a whole Coach: To be the best, you learn from the best don Olympics gold medalist joined inside page dedicated to her as a pio- the players rotating from one sport neer who made history as the fi rst FROM PAGE 1 abroad, sending its coaches to Europe. to another. My fi rst guess was that black gymnast to win gold in the Th e latest gold proves they might the man was her coach. individual all-around. Team leader Liu Qinlong, Giralt’s be on to something. However, when another Chinese Douglas’ quote in the newspaper busy interpreter, must both translate Under the guidance of Italian race- woman coach walked in front of my took on an almost presidential tone: and comfort. walking expert Sandro Damilano, lens, my colleague next to me in the “I hope that I inspire people. I want Th e World Championships showed Chinese walker Chen Ding claimed middle of the magnifi cent stadium to inspire people. My mother said just what could be achieved. the title in the 20km on Saturday to started to search online using his you can inspire a nation.” “Once his strict demands produced become the country’s second men’s iPhone. Th e character of the US media good results, players seemed more gold medalist in track and fi eld, fol- Th e Chinese-American man was coverage makes sense, considering cooperative,” Liu said. lowing Liu Xiang. Liang Chow, a Beijing native born in the country values heroism, individ- Women’s hockey has also seen the Damilano also coached Liu Hong 1968. Chow coaches Douglas, who’s ualism and the American dream. benefi ts of bringing in expertise. to a silver medal in the women’s 20km known as “the fl ying squirrel”. But there has been little coverage Kim Sang-ryul, who took the helm at last year’s Worlds. With Douglas holding the lead of Chow. from compatriot Kim Chang-back “I’ve learned a lot from him on from start to fi nish during the two- USA Today showed Chow posing aft er he led the team to silver in Bei- aerobic endurance — he’s played an hour competition, Chow relaxed, with Douglas in a photo but never jing, also struggled to earn the trust important role in my career,” Chen smiled and encouraged. mentioned him otherwise. A Web of his players even aft er he guided the said aft er the victory. Several friends had prepared Chi- search showed coverage of the coach male side for more than four years. Among those foreigners are also nese fl ags but didn’t get the chance is minimal. CUI MENG / CHINA DAILY Th e 57-year-old worked hard on his New Zealand shot put coach Kirsten to wave them, as China’s gymnastics Th is perhaps demonstrates a Juan Jane Giral, the coach for China’s water polo team, is one of several Chinese-language skills and was not international coaches who train Chinese athletes. Hellier and German discus coach teams took fi ft h and six places. cultural diff erence. In China, your hesitant about off ering forceful advice Karl-Heinz Steinmetz. We were sitting next to a group teacher is traditionally considered on the pitch but was always mild-man- Foreign coaches must contend with its best swimmers for lengthy train- Steinmetz coached veteran Li Yan- of Americans, who were excitingly more important than your parents. nered off it, to build up team spirit. the language barrier, culture shock ing camps in Australia every year. feng to a bronze medal on Saturday, cheering for Douglas, shouting: And the story of the coach behind “During training, I would not smile and a diff erent management philoso- Renowned coach Denis Cotterell another major achievement aft er Li’s “U-S-A! U-S-A!” We politely waved the victory is surely worth telling. and I always have my sunglasses on,” phy before they can get around to helped fi ne-tune prodi- gold at the Worlds last year. to them and threw up our thumbs as Fortunately, I met a retired Amer- Kim Sang-ryul said aft er China’s 1-0 passing on their tricks and ideas. gies Sun Yang and Ye Shiwen, both “Our athletes improved their fi t- Douglas dazzled. ican gymnast on the boat to where loss to defending champion the Neth- Th at’s led to a new approach: Chi- double gold medalists in London. ness and endurance signifi cantly with I pointed out to a friend that I’m staying in London, who said she erlands on Th ursday. nese athletes are being sent abroad to Australian coach Ken Wood, United foreign coaches’ advanced methods,” this was a competition in which an could put me in touch with Chow. “I must be strict (in practice) so train with foreign coaches overseas. States former world-record-holder said Du Zhaocai, director of the African-American won a gold for I’ve got my fi ngers crossed I can they can learn and improve. I stay Th e swimming team that won 10 and Britain’s David national track and fi eld administra- the US with coaching from a Beijing get the interview. 24 hours with them and try to be a medals, including fi ve gold, in Lon- Lyles all plied their trade with China tive center. “We will stick to the Chi- native. family member off the pitch,” Kim don is a good example. as well. nese-foreign combination to benefi t When I later talked with former Contact the writer at fujing@china- Sang-ryul said. China has recently begun sending Chinese track and fi eld also looked more athletes in the future.” BBC presenter Alex Kirby and his daily.com.cn