China warn gold rush could slow

LONDON – China fired a warning they could win a third fewer golds than at Beijing 2008 as the ex-hosts played down expectations they will top the medals table for the second Olympics running.

Deputy chef de mission Xiao Tian said statistics showed previous Games hosts shed an average of 32 percent of their gold medals at the next Olympics — meaning China would probably fall back behind the United States.

“In Beijing we were the host country so we had 51 gold medals and 100 medals in total. Here, we’re not the host country,” he told journalists at London’s Olympic Park.

“We made a calculation: in five past Olympics, the previous host country had a reduction of 32 percent in gold medals and medals overall.

“Therefore I don’t think we’ll have the same amount of medals as in Beijing. But the Chinese delegation will do its best to get its best results.”

China outstripped the United States, table-toppers for the previous three Olympics, by 15 gold medals in 2008 as they became the Games’ most successful nation for the first time.

By their calculations, they could now win 35 at London, one fewer than the United States amassed in 2008. However, China routinely play down their prospects before big events and such a drop would be a major surprise.

China’s 396-strong team arrives in London still dominant in its key sports of diving, table tennis, badminton, shooting, weightlifting and gymnastics, but also with a stronger swim team than 2008.

Observers say China, which has extended its cooperation with foreign coaches and experts, also has strong medal chances in taekwondo, judo, women’s water polo, women’s volleyball, women’s beach volleyball and trampoline.

According to Xiao, China’s biggest weakness is in ball sports — despite selecting NBA basketball player Yi Jianlian as their flag-bearer. They are contesting all sports apart from football, handball and the equestrian events.

“For the time being it will be very difficult to have a medal in basketball or in any ball games. That’s our weakness,” he admitted.

Xiao added that the Games were also an important public relations exercise for China, and he urged his athletes to show “Olympic spirit” to promote a positive national image.

“We enter the Olympics as a country. It’s not as an individual or a team or a squad. It’s really as a country for China,” said Xiao.

“After 30 years of reforms and opening-up, China is developing, it’s progressing, in every field and we would like to have… friendly exchanges so the Olympic spirit can continue to be promoted,” he added.