China swimmers eye 鈥楪lory in Rio鈥
Print Edition
The Chinese swimming team is looking to make a splash at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, setting the bar higher than its success in London.
China won a total of five gold medals, three silvers and four bronzes in swimming and synchronized swimming during the 2012 Summer Games. Chinese swimming team leader Xu Qi revealed this week that the team is targeting at even a better performance for next year.
鈥淲e have put up a banner at our training center that reads 鈥淢iracle in London, Glory in Rio.鈥 We hope our performance will surpass that in London,鈥 Xu said at a signing ceremony in Shanghai to mark the collaboration between his team and web portal NetEase (163.com).
NetEase has reportedly invested more than 30 million yuan (US$4.7 million) in a five-year deal to become the swimming team鈥檚 sponsor, and will cover the athletes鈥 training, competition and stay in Rio during next year鈥檚 Olympics. Red-hot world champion Ning Zetao has also become NetEase鈥檚 image ambassador.
Ning鈥檚 stunning victory in the men鈥檚 100-meter freestyle at the world championships in Kazan, Russia, in August, as well as his sunny disposition, have made him a new national idol as well as a popular target for commercial sponsors. However, according to the team鈥檚 regulation, all its athletes should get prior approval before getting involved in advertising or commercial activities. The team will also get a share in athletes鈥 commercial income.
鈥淭he athletes鈥 sports values can be transformed into social or economic values if we handle it properly,鈥 said Wang Lusheng, director of the Chinese swimming team management center. 鈥淚f it鈥檚 not handled well, it can lead to mutual damage.鈥
Wang revealed that the has already completed its internal Olympic selection work, and will soon start preparations for next year鈥檚 Games.
Olympic champion Ye Shiwen also attended the signing ceremony. The winner of the women鈥檚 400 and 200 individual medley in London suffered an ankle surgery in August.
鈥淎fter the recovery procedure, I鈥檒l take part in rigorous training, and will hopefully reach my competitive form by next April,鈥 the 19-year-old said.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 娌狪CP璇侊細娌狪CP澶05050403鍙-1
- |
- 浜掕仈缃戞柊闂讳俊鎭湇鍔¤鍙瘉锛31120180004
- |
- 缃戠粶瑙嗗惉璁稿彲璇侊細0909346
- |
- 骞挎挱鐢佃鑺傜洰鍒朵綔璁稿彲璇侊細娌瓧绗354鍙
- |
- 澧炲肩數淇′笟鍔＄粡钀ヨ鍙瘉锛氭勃B2-20120012
Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
