Games preparations are heating up so much that interviews are taking longer and longer to arrange. Like, four months is still not enough advance notice for an interview with an Olympic athlete? Cui Dalin, Deputy Director of the General Administration of Sport (GASC) apologized for being unable to fit a one-on-one interview into his schedule. Instead he provided written answers to questions submitted by Newsweek. The GASC oversees China’s Olympic athletes and its strategy for winning gold medals. Cui didn't answer all the questions submitted -- check out his response to questions about "Project 119" -- but at least he didn't evade our request completely. Excerpts :
Newsweek: Does China expect to win more gold medals than any other country at the Beijing Summer Games? What are the Chinese team’s hopes and aspirations?
Cui Dalin: We expect Chinese athletes to do well both in spiritual civilization and in gold medals at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. We hope they’ll show the audience not only their good sports technique, but especially their progress in weak areas. We hope the Chinese team will try its best to win gold medals...[But] of course our assessment of the Chinese team at the Beijing Olympic Games will not be limited to the number of gold medals they win. They have a comprehensive target including the following four aspects:
1) Carrying forth the Olympic spirit and the Chinese sports spirit; trying their best in competition; not being arrogant when they win and not losing their heart when they are defeated; showing their best spirit and sports morality to the world;
2) Trying their best to win sport achievements;
3) Strengthening friendly exchanges with other countries and regions in the world;
4) By hosting the Olympic Games, we’ll promote and provide good models for healthy activities among the people, and promote the development of mass sports in China.
China has never identified being number one in gold medals as its goal. In many sports, China is still behind compared to world levels, and in general is not as strong as some countries that are world “sports powers”. We encourage our athletes to achieve their best sports results, demonstrate their good sporting spirit, and try their best to be among the top medal winners. But as for how many gold medals they may or will win…we’ll know only after the Games.
Newsweek: Please explain the so-called “Project 119” which is related to China’s strategy for winning gold medals? When did it start? Will it continue after 2008? Do you feel it’s been a success or a failure, and how will it influence the Chinese Olympic Team’s performance in 2008?
Cui: Swimming, track and field, and water events such as canoe and sailboat are basic events [that represented] 119 gold medals in past Olympic Games. Now, the number of gold medals for the same events has been increased to 122; among them 34 gold medals for swimming, 47 for track and field and 41 for water events.
During the Olympics in Sydney, the Chinese team won only one gold in the about-mentioned events. After that, the State General Sports Bureau put forward “Project 199” with the aim of making big breakthroughs in those events. In the 2004 Athens Olympics, the Chinese team won four gold medals on the “Project 119” list, including Liu Xiang in the track and field men’s 100-meter hurdles; Xing Huina in the women’s10,000-meter race in track and field; Luo Xuejuan in the women’s 100-meter breast stroke; and Meng Guanliang and Yang Wenjun in the men’s C-2 500-meter canoe.
Newsweek: Chinese athletes will be competing on their home turf this summer. Do you think some will perform even better than they would otherwise because they want to impress their fellow citizens?
Cui : Chinese athletes won’t have the time differences [and jet lag that visiting athletes might have] and are more used to China’s weather and the environment. There will be more Chinese in the audience watching the games and cheering for the athletes. But at the same time, Chinese athletes will have more psychological pressure and more distractions. People in China will pin high hopes on them, making it more possible for them to feel the strain or experience other sudden phenomena that could lead to abnormal performances in the Games.
Newsweek: Can you explain how athletes are chosen for the Olympic team, and give examples of how some well-known athletes were chosen?
Cui: The athletes at present have been actively training and taking part in all kinds of qualifying competitions, both domestically and internationally. We can’t yet confirm who will represent China in the 2008 Olympic Games. We will let you as soon as we have the name list.
Newsweek: There have been rumors that China held back some talented athletes from other competitions so that the Olympic team’s performances in 2008 will be particularly impressive – is this true?
Cui: Athletes grow up and become competent by taking part in competitions. That’s how they gain experience. Therefore we’ll not hold back talented athletes. Instead we provide more opportunities for them to compete and to help young athletes mature quickly. Besides, there many events that require the athletes themselves to qualify in order to take part in the Games. It’s impossible for us to hold them back.
