Ü9]abaf_ÜFdqeha[ÜJYadaf_ÜI]_YllY 9]abaf_ Fdqeeha[ÜJYadaf__ÜI]_YllY 20 SUNDAY AUGUST 10, 2008 City sets sail for success member Ng Ser Miang also gave credit The environment in Qingdao is Qingdao mayor promises to host a to the local organizing committee as getting better and better. Last year, well as the thousands of volunteers. all days in August and 332 days of the spectacular Olympic sailing competition “Thanks for its strong and con- year were of fi ne air quality. tinuous efforts including providing Qingdao upgraded its emergency By Zhang Xiaomin nally joined hands with the Olympics. world-class sailing facilities, Qingdao response system and set up a compre- After seven years of preparation, we will make the Olympic sailing event hensive security system to safeguard are ready for the Olympic Games. To- unique and exceptional.” the Olympic regatta. QINGDAO: Xia Geng, mayor of Qin- day, our dream is coming true and we Qingdao built a world-class Olym- The city has also established a gdao and chairman of the Qingdao shall share the glory. When the Olympic pic sailing center and hosted two test highly qualifi ed volunteer team, with Olympic Sailing Committee prom- sailors race in this bay, this ‘Capital of events in 2006 and 2007. The 2007 around 400,000 locals registered as ised to give the world a splendid Sailing’ of prosperity, rich culture and regatta was held totally in line with volunteers serving the regatta. Olympic sailing regatta yesterday at harmony will be in the spotlight under the Olympic practices. Weeks before the Games, offi cials the launching ceremony of the Beijing the Olympic Rings,” he said. Qingdao thoroughly tested the fa- and local residents struggled with a Olympic Sailing Competition in Qin- “The 2008 Olympic Sailing Com- cilities and the operating system for stubborn adversary: algae. The local gdao of Shandong province. petition is not only a grand event for these events, said Xia. The organiz- government immediately set up an Xia wished the world’s top sailors sailors, but a gathering of the people ers, volunteers and all the other staff emergency-response department. With- success in the regatta and hoped that from all over the world and a festivity became familiar with their working in a short period of time, the Olympic they enjoy their stay in the coastal of the citizens. Inspired by the Olym- procedures. sailing venue was cleaned up. city. pic motto of ‘Citius, Altius, Fortius’, The athletes and coaches can enjoy "It is an honor to host the Olympic “Qingdao, a pearl on the Yellow Sea, we will listen with our hearts to the both Chinese and Western cuisine, and, regatta. I believe that the organizing is a national economic center featured exciting melody of sailing and share with its convenient traffi c system, es- committee, the ISAF officials, the with port, open economy, famous the joy and success of the Beijing pecially the public transport network, technical offi cials, and the volunteers brands, tourism and marine science Olympic Games.” citizens, athletes, and tourists can eas- will do the utmost to guarantee the Qingdao Mayor Xia Geng and research. The century-old city fi - Singapore’s IOC Executive Board ily get to any corner of the city. success of the regatta," said Xia. Qingdao sets sail Boats return after a sailing practice prior to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Qingdao. Reuters Sailors to New rules make spectators joyful By Huang Yanhong westward, leaving 1.5 square nauti- days reaches six, two more days slug it out cal mile’s space for fl exible uses. than before, which offers more op- The victory course after the medal portunities for the audience to watch QINGDAO: The 2008 Beijing Olympic race is also a unique and innovative the grand awarding ceremony. By Zhao Ruixue Sailing Competition has adopted new design. Compared with the International rules so spectators can get closer to The above two routes were tested Sailing Competition 2006 and 2007, the action. at the 2007 Qingdao International the 2008 Beijing Olympic Sailing QINGDAO: According to the Inter- Spectators watching the sailing Sailing Regatta and received a great Competition provides all equipment national Sailing Federation (ISAF), competition of the 2008 Beijing deal of praise from ISAF offi cials and such as sailing boats and windsurfi ng 400 competitors from 62 nations and Olympics are very lucky since they the media. boards at the four events — RS:X Men/ regions will compete for medals in 11 can get nearer to athletes thanks to Compared with the 2007 Inter- Women, Laser and Laser Radial. competitions in Qingdao. All information provided by the Central Meteorologicalthe Observatorybuilding of the spectator dam, a national Sailing Competition, seven Being required to follow strictly Therefore, the 2008 Olympic sailing fi rst for the Olympics. more days have been provided for ath- the customs of the Olympiad, all competitions are described as a struggle Sailors in the Yngling class approach the leeward mark yesterday, the fi rst According to Qu Chun, from the letes to conduct training, from July 27, competing boats can only use the among bests, with each nation getting day of the Beijing Olympic Sailing Competition. Ju Chuanjiang Competing Department of 2008 the opening of the competition venues country/region code published by just one entry to each event. Olympic Sailing Committee, the to August 9, the fi rst competing day, the Olympic Organization Commit- Sailing competitions are unpre- States, who is currently the world’s No onstrated their capability by securing Beijing Olympic Sailing Competition a total of 13 days. tee, their national/regional fl ag and dictable thanks to the changeable 1 and won the gold medal for Laser Ra- gold at the 2007 Qingdao regatta. witnesses major adjustments and im- The number of medal-awarding their names. weather, leaving more room for people dial at the 2007 Qingdao International Carlos Espinola of Argentina has provements to its rules of competing, to speculate on the possible results. Regatta, is Xu’s strongest competitor in won medals at three consecutive such as the arrangement of the venue Over 2,500 sailors attended com- the Olympic Sailing Competition. Olympics but never gold. "I am not and the competing schedule. petitions at 10 qualifi cation regattas Australia will be one of the most sure whether I will make my dream This year’s medal race will con- across Europe, Oceania and North competitive teams with three compet- come true at the Beijing Olympics, tinue to use the rules used at the America to gain their nation a place itors currently ranked No 1 in three but I will try my best," Espinola said. International Sailing Competitions at the Games. of the 11 events, including Tom Sling- Spain's Iker Martinez and Xabier Fer- in 2006 and 2007. Among Chinese competitors, women’s sby of Laser who won the champion nandez, gold medalists at Athens in In the last round of the competi- windsurfer Yin Jian, men’s windsurfer at the Kiel Week held in Germany. 2004, are also coming back to fi ght for tion, in which the rankings are Wang Aichen and Xu Lijia in Laser Ra- The country was ranked second on another gold in the 49er at Qingdao. determined, the scores are doubled. dial event are medal contenders. the medal tally of the 2007 Qingdao Another Athens gold medalist Before the fi nals of the competition The 21-year-old Xu Lijia stands at the International Regatta with two golds, France’s Faustine Merret, who won are the preliminary contest, in which forefront of the ever-increasing Chinese one silver and one bronze. the Women's Windsurfer event at only the top 10 of each event can take challenge. The young woman won the Charles Benedict Ainslie from Athens, will compete on the newly- part in the medal round. 2006 sailing world championships and the United Kingdom is no doubt a designed RS: X board. The time for medal race is short- she is currently ranked second world- favorite this year. Ainslie won his Athens gold medalists Sarah Ayton ened from the preliminary competi- wide according to the latest ranking list fi rst Olympic gold medal in Laser at and Sarah Webb of the United King- tions’ 45 minutes or one hour to 20 released by the ISAF in July. 2000 in Sydney, a second gold medal dom is lined up with new teammate minutes. Anna Tunnicliffe of the United in Finn at 2004 Athens and showed Pippa Wilson and will race against Compared with the 2004 Athens his talent by winning gold at 2007 the Norwegian Yngling helmed by Olympic Sailing Competition, one Qingdao International Regatta. Siren Sundby, who won gold in the more venue has been used this This special supplement is co-published by the Informa- Austrians Roman Hagara and Hans single-handed Europe dinghy in Ath- year. tion Offi ce of Qingdao municipal Peter Steinacher are also eyeing a third ens and Sofi a Bekatorou helming the The arrangement of the venues government and China Daily consecutive Olympic gold medal in the Greek Yngling, a gold medalist in the is also adjusted. Venues B, C, D and New technology like windmills are used during the Olympic Sailing Com- Tornado, and the experienced fl eet dem- two-person 470 four years ago. E have moved half a nautical mile petition in Qingdao. Ju Chuanjiang .