Ü9]abaf_ÜFdqeha[ÜJYadaf_ÜI]_YllY 9]abaf_ Fdqeeha[ÜJYadaf__ÜI]_YllY 24 WEDNESDAY AUGUST 20, 2008 Rookie Xu Fine organization wins bronze ensures success for China By Zhang Ying QINGDAO: The Olympic sailing competition has received high praise from Games organizers Host claims third-ever Olympic for its smooth operations. The organization behind all sailing medal; but still sees gold the Olympic races over the past 12 days has been widely By Xiao Guo nese in an Olympic class. applauded by several parties She was unable to compete in including the International Athens in 2004 due to health Olympic Committee (IOC), the QINGDAO: Xu Lijia’s debut at the reasons. International Sailing Federa- Olympics ended well yesterday, “Since then, I have become tion (ISAF), and political and earning her country a bronze aware that sailing is an indispens- media leaders from home and medal in sailing in Qingdao. able part of my life,” she said. abroad, says Zang Aimin, ex- “I’m not feeling bad winning That’s why stepping up on ecutive vice-president of the a bronze, I did my best," said Xu to the podium in her home Sailing Committee in Qingdao about her victory just moments country has made the moment of the Beijing Organizing Com- afterward. all the more meaningful for the mittee for the Games. “I hope this is only the begin- Olympic rookie. ning. I would like to see more But the win took a lot of hard Chinese youths getting involved work and adaptation to Qing- in sailing.” dao’s water But the conditions. Xu 21-year-old’s I’m not feeling bad didn’t do well bronze in winning a bronze, I at the 2006 and Laser Radial 2007 Qingdao sailor wasn’t did my best. International easy. She had XU LIJIA Regattas. She a rough start China Laser Radial sailor placed 11th, to the Olympic after failing to competition on adjust to Qing- the opening day of the Laser dao’s light wind conditions. Radial event at the Olympic “But, I don’t blame the wind, sailing competition, placing everyone is facing it and I know below expectations at 14th. I still have to improve my sail- Zang Aimin Ju Chuanjiang But steadily, she pushed hard ing skills,” she said then. and was in third place by the Xu fi rst learned how to swim at Despite heavy rains and ninth round, the last race before the age of 4. She switched to sail- strong winds on Aug 17, the the fi nals. ing after meeting sailing coach medal races of Yngling, Finn, Xu is currently ranked world Zhang Jing, who suggested she and 49er were carried out well, No 2 in her class and was one try the sport based on talent for demonstrating Qingdao’s fi ne of the pre-Games medal favor- it that Xu showed early on. organizational preparation and ites in the Olympics sailing Under Zhang’s advice, Xu de- cooperation between domestic regatta. cided to give the sport a whirl. and international staff teams. In her short career, Xu has re- She soon fell in love with sailing Urs Lacotte, executive gen- written Chinese sailing history at age 12. Sailing has since been eral secretary of the IOC, gave with many notable accomplish- her life — and she wouldn’t have thumbs-up to the city. “Qingdao ments. In 2006, she won world it any other way. Olympic Sailing Committee gold in the Laser Radial class “Sailing is all worth it,” said Xu Lijia of China, sailing in the Laser Radial class, holds the national fl ag to celebrate her winning the bronze at the Beijing Olym- worked well with IOC and ISAF, in Califonia — the fi rst by a Chi- Xu. pic Games in Qingdao yesterday. Ju Chuanjiang ensuring a wonderful sailing regatta,” he said. Lacotte said he was also im- pressed with the strong show of support from the entire city and wide participation of the Golden dream fi nally comes true for British Goodison masses, which made the event possible. By Guo Xin Goodison himself kept the ninth way to guarantee it. Sweden to take,” said Zbogar. “I was this time around in China. European champion and cur- More than 80,000 spectators position till the end. knew it was coming too, but I able to sail my own race, as Just moments before the race, rently ranks third in the world. from home and abroad watched Goodison’s actions also cost just had to do what I got to do,” Britain was keeping an eye Goodison said he was feel- Goodison won gold at both the Games on the spectator QINGDAO: An Olympic dream the Swede a medal even though said the 30-year-old Goodison. on Sweden. I think I had an ing more confi dent about his the 2006 and 2007 Olympic bank, dolling out top grades became golden for British sailor he went into the race in second Vasilij Zbogar from Slove- advantage because I have al- preparations for Beijing, both test events, making him one of to the service and facilities Paul Goodison at the 2008 place overall. nia, Athens bronze medalist, ready won bronze at Athens, physically and mentally. the only two sailors in the world there. Olympic Games yesterday. With a total of 63 points, took the silver medal, fi nish- so I didn't feel pressure and His mother Cynthia Goodi- to be undefeated at the Olympic Facilities in Qingdao’s Olym- Goodison earned his first Goodison added to Britain's ing second in the medal race make mistakes.” son also came to Qingdao to sailing venue. The other is Ben pic Village, which was home to Olympic gold medal in the men’s already impressive collec- with 71 points overall. Medal The bronze medal went to cheer him on. Goodison said Ainslie, who won gold in the 62 fl eets and provided services Laser medal race at Fushan bay, tion of Yngling and Finn gold race winner Andrew Murdoch Diego Romero from Italy with it defi nitely helped to have his Finn class three days ago. in 17 languages, also received Qingdao, also the third gold for medals and 470 men's silver. of New Zealand blocked Zbogar 75 points total and third fi nish family there. “Ben (Ainslie) has been one smiles all around. Britain in the regatta. He also proved his talent was at every mark to try to get rid of in the medal race. “My family supports me so of the most infl uential people in A Chilean delegation led by Taking an 18-point lead into unquestionable to win his fi rst the Slovenian in the light shifty much and the medal is a mas- my sailing career, as we trained Jaime Pizarro, Chile’s deputy the double-points race, Goodison Olympic gold despite the fourth airs, knowing it would cost him Long overdue win sive team effort. I really would together before Sydney, and I sports minister, gave high used the tactic to block his near- position in Athens 2004. the bronze medal, but like the The win was long overdue for like to thank them for helping got to see what it takes to win marks to the village, with the est rival Sweden to maintain his “It was quite tricky and pretty Sweden, the New Zealander Goodison, who had been eyeing me pull through,” he said. gold,” said Goodison. minister firmly believing in lead in the medal race. He forced stressful. I waited to make sure missed out. gold since narrowly missing the He began sailing at the age Qingdao’s complete success in Sweden to the last of the 10-boat that I got the gold at the end of “It was really shifty, so it was podium in Athens. of 4 and turned professional in Agencies contributed to the holding the event. fl eet through all the marks while the day and there was only one hard to choose which course But, things were different 1996. Goodison is a four-time story Security was also well under control. The sailing center was protected by using a multi-di- mensional defense mechanism, monitoring the area by land, sea, air and from underwater nearby. Security offi cers also patrolled the area during all hours of day and night. A British delegation came to visit the center, exchanging ideas with the staff there and acquiring experience for their country, which will host the 2012 London Olympic Games. “We hope to have more chances to communicate with our Chinese colleagues here and bring the valuable experi- ences back to London,” one of the delegates said. About 13,000 Games-time, city and social volunteers par- ticipated in running Qingdao’s sailing competition. One hun- Paul Goodison of Britain celebrates after winning the gold medal at the Laser class competition Anna Tunnicliffe of the US, sailing in the Laser Radial class, smiles after winning gold at the dred volunteer families also during the Beijing Olympic Games in Qingdao yesterday. Ju Chenghao Beijing Olympic Games in Qingdao yesterday. Ju Chuanjiang contributed by hosting foreign- ers, charity-themed events and promoting cultural exchanges between China and other coun- World No 1 American Tunnicliffe takes Laser Radial title tries and regions. Belgian Prime Minister Yves QINGDAO: Anna Tunnicliffe 500km south of Beijing. “It was a little too exciting,’’ point and I saw this big left puff, to change clothes’’ and moving strong Chinese sailing medal Leterme has attended several of the United States came from “It hasn’t really hit,” said Brit- she said just after the fi nish.