PAGE 10 • AUGUST 12, 2011 DAILY SPOTLIGHT: TEAM CHINA Happiness tops agenda for locals By SUN XIAOCHEN

SHENZHEN — Even the athletes say they’re not feeling much pressure as the approaches. Making his international debut, decathlete Sun Gang said he feels more relaxed than he would in a domestic competition, saying there’s “no pressure for results”. Sun, a sophomore from Sport University, admitted his performance might be hampered competing in the National Games with targets on his back. “But coming here, I don’t need to set any goals. Nobody talks too much about the results, but (focuses instead on) cheering and having fun together. Feeling no pressure might help me do better than usual,” said Sun, who majors in athletics training. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY Sun’s teammate, Jin Qichao, who just Yang Liguo, executive head of the Chinese delegation, gives a speech during the opening of the Qiaodan Sports Team China reception center fi nished his freshman year at Zhejiang on Wednesday in Shenzhen. University, echoed that sentiment. “We are in the summer holiday — coming here to race is just like traveling. We will just enjoy the sports fans, make some foreign friends and nothing else,” FOR THE LOVE OF SPORT said Jin. Jin studies business management in CHINESE ATHLETES HAVE THEIR SIGHTS SET ON MORE THAN JUST GOLD case he changes his mind and decides to “quit the game and pick up the family business one day”. By SUN XIAOCHEN compete in all 24 events, and should per- “It’s been divided since the beginning Joining Sun and Jin on Wednesday, CHINA DAILY form at world-class levels in what have because of our special systems. But now, dozens of students visited the new Qiao- traditionally been strong events like , it’s time to make a diff erence,” said Ma, dan Sports Team China reception center SHENZHEN — It’s not whether they win gymnastics and table tennis. who is the vice-director of Tsinghua Uni- beside the Universiade’s main stadium. or lose. “If the delegation can perform at the versity’s department of physical educa- Th e center will provide facilities and Really. caliber it’s been training at ... China should tion. services for mini press conferences or Th e Chinese delegation at the Universi- fi nish in the top three on the medal table,” “At this event, we can witness how good interviews with athletes every day. ade is shrugging off the medal count, saying Yang said. the US student athletes are aft er training Qiaodan Sports will also donate it’s more interested in making friends and China has attended all 17 University and competing in the NCAA system. Th e 30,000 yuan ($4,638) to the China Youth learning from the experience. Games since 1979, claiming a total of 276 merging of college education and profes- Development Foundation for each gold “It’s more important for us to attend and gold medals and seeing numerous Olympic sional training in our country should be medalist during the meet. to compete rather than win. We came here and world medalists emerge. accelerated aft er the games.” without any goals for the medals, (hoping China’s iconic hurdler, , According to Ma, 71 freshmen and instead to) enjoy the gala event,” said Yang grabbed his fi rst international title at the sophomores from 35 universities form the Liguo, executive head of the Chinese del- Beijing Universiade in 2001, while “Diving athletics team for the Shenzhen Games. egation, aft er the opening of the Qiaodan Queen” Guo Jingjing started to dominate About half train on campus, while the oth- Sports Team China reception center on the pool aft er wrapping up three golds at ers practice with local teams. Wednesday. the same games. “No matter where they train, they have Yang said the competition at the Univer- “Th e event provides a bridge from excel- to reach all the academic requirements sity Games was just as good as that at the lence to greatness. Leaving the results and pass the exams as normal students do Olympics, but stressed the young athletes behind, young athletes should compete before taking part in competitions,” Ma should focus more on their off -fi eld per- hard and improve,” said Yang. said. formance. Ma Xindong, team leader of the athlet- Ma encourages his student athletes to “Th e Universiade is a transitional plat- ics squad, said China can use the event choose non-sports majors, or at least select form for the youngsters to test their abilities as a catalyst to improve the relationship some optional courses in other fields to on an international stage ... Th ey can gain between university-level athletics and pro- keep them “rich in mind”. experience for bigger events,” he said. fessional athletics. “When they fi nd they don’t want to be a “More important, it’s a great chance to China’s college athletes, who are trained professional sportsman aft er graduation, share diff erent cultures, show China’s new outside the state-run system, are short on I hope they have other options to begin PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY generation a lively image and broaden their elite guidance, while professional athletes their careers,” said Ma, who used to be a Chinese athletes smile at the Qiaodan horizons for their future lives.” usually struggle to earn a living aft er retire- volleyball player before earning a PhD in Sports Team China reception center in Still, Yang said the Chinese team would ment due to their lack of education. exercise physiology. Shenzhen.