BEIJING, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Around 90 reporters from more than 50 medias,
most of which were from foreign countries and regions, watched part of the
training sessions of China's national teams.
"It is the first time for me to see the national team training," said
Charlotte Glennie, correspondent from the Australia Network Broadcasting, doing
part of her program in the gym hall in the Training Center of China's General
Administration of Sport.
According to her, it was a precious chance to shoot the training scenes of
the Chinese athletes.
"It is not easy to organize such a big visit as it involves many athletes
and teams which are taking their training sessions, and the media group is
larger than ever before," said Li Zhanjun, director of Beijing Olympic Media
Center.
As the Olympic Games approaching, the preparations of the Chinese top
athletes had drawn more and more attentions of the foreign media, especially
under the expectation that they may surprise the world by leading the gold medal
tally next year.
"I am curious about how the Chinese athletes train and their keys to win in
some superior sports, but I know it is impossible as those are considered as
national secrets not only in China but also in any other countries," said Marije
Vlaskamp, correspondent from RTI.
In the Olympic shooting range, where the first gold medal of the Beijing
Olympics may be produced, the reporters raised questions to Wang Yuefang and
Chang Jingchun, coaches of the Olympic Champions Du Li and Zhu Qinan in 2004,
about the first gold and the way of dealing with great pressure to compete on
home soil.
"It is the first time we see so many reporters at a time during our
training sessions," said Wang, who denied the first gold of Beijing Olympics is
a solo thing of Du Li.
The group also watched the trainings of the weighlifting, diving and
gymnastics team and talked with diving Olympic Champion Guo Jingjing and
gymnastic world champion Yang Wei.
"We will consider to arrange more such kind of visits and interviews for
the media, but we shall ensure the normal trainings of the teams not to be
affected," said Cui Dalin, vice president of the General Administration of
Sport.
"Of course I want more chances to have direct communications with Chinese
athletes," said Charlotte. "However, we have to be realistic, as they have to
prepare for the Olympics."