BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) — China doesn’t expect to win the largest number of gold medals at the Beijing Olympics this summer, a senior sports official said here on Wednesday. In several ways, China lags countries such as the United States and Russia, said Cui Dalin, deputy director of the State General Administration of Sport.
“It’s the responsibility of Chinese athletes and coaches to strive for medals at the Games. But we had never thought of winning the most gold medals,” he said.
Cui, who is also a member of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), made the remarks at a press conference on the sidelines of the annual session of the top political advisory body.
The United States won 103 medals at the Athens Games in 2004 and Russia won 92, well above China’s 63, Cui said.
U.S. athletes won 31 world titles in swimming and track and field events last year, which was close to all the 32 gold medals China won at the Athens Games, Cui said.
“I simply cannot predict how many gold medals Chinese athletes can win at the Olympics,” Cui said.
China won its first Olympic gold medal in Los Angles in 1984.
Expectations for Team China to topple the sports superpower of the United States this summer have been running high among Chinese, as the Olympics is to be held for the first time on their home soil.
Chinese athletes are hopeful of winning medals in diving, table tennis, shooting, women’s taekwondo and weightlifting. They have also made breakthroughs in some sports such as boxing, rowing, sailing, fencing, men’s wrestling, pentathlon and trampoline, officials have said.
The Beijing Games demonstrates the support of the international community for China’s opening up and reform policy and its economic and social development, according to Cui.
“Carrying out the Olympic spirit in the world’s most populous country is a significant thing. We aim to promote friendship with people from other countries and improve the development of sports in China,” he said.
“If you insist on asking how many gold medals we will get, I’ll tell you the exact number on Aug. 24 when the Games concludes,” he grinned.
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