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."
(Xinhua News Agency November 10, 2007)
