Battle Call Issued for Chinese Athletes
Chinese Olympic Committee president Liu Peng says preparations of the national team for the 2008 are entering "a decisive stage". In an address to sports administrators reported by Xinhua, Liu says more must be done to make the Chinese team competitive at its home town Games.
"Battle preparations for the 2008 Olympic Games are in a grave state," Liu is quoted.
"In a considerable number of events, we lack competitiveness to win gold in the Olympics," he said.
"In overall strength in world athletics, we're still in the second league," said Liu, citing swimming as another sport needing improvement.
Liu's comments follow the signing of an agreement earlier in the week between Australian and British Olympic leaders aimed in part at countering China's growth as a sports power.
Reality TV Show Selects Olympic Coxes
China Central Television is using a reality show to recruit two coxes for the country's Olympic rowing team in 2008.
The coxes will be chosen from 80 contestants who were selected from more than 30,000 applicants for the show. "China's Olympic Cox Competition" will air twice a week on the main CCTV1 channel.
The show invites viewers to vote for their favorite contestants in early rounds, but national coaches and team members will reportedly have the final say.
Workers Set for Big Pay Raise
Construction workers at Olympic venues will get a pay rise of at least 30 per cent from February 1, the city government says.
Under the new "market wage" system that all firms are required to use in Beijing, skilled and semi-skilled construction workers will earn 40-60 Yuan ($5.10 to $7.70) per day, up from an average of 30 Yuan ($3.80) per day.
The pay rise will apply to all of the estimated three million migrant workers in Beijing and is designed "to guarantee the construction of Olympic venues", Beijing media said.
There were no details of how the extra wage costs would be incorporated into budgets and whether contractors would be forced to bear some of the burden.
Beijing's 31 Olympic construction sites are believed to employ up to 30,000 workers, including about 2,000 at the Olympic Stadium.
Adidas Seeks Uniform Designs
Adidas has joined the Chinese Olympic Committee and BOCOG in seeking designs for uniforms to be worn by the Chinese team at medal ceremonies in 2008.
The organizers said the open design competition will "let worldwide Chinese have the opportunity to participate in, experience and share the spirit of the Olympic Games".
Queuing Day Joins "Civilized Beijing" Campaign
The city government decided Thursday to ask Beijing's 15 million residents to take part in a "voluntary queuing day" on the 11th of each month.
The activity is designed to help "create an orderly environment for the Olympic Games, especially in public places". It is part of a wider campaign to encourage "civilized behavior" in 2008, including the elimination of spitting.
Many Chinese people are not used to queuing in shops, bus stations, theaters and other public places, especially outside the major cities.
With reporting from Beijing by Bill Smith.
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