Chinese Delegation Arrives in Busan for FESPIC Games

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, October 24, 2002

Chinese Delegation Arrives in Busan for FESPIC Games

A Chinese sports delegation with some 300 members arrived here on Wednesday for the8th Far East and South Pacific Games for the Disabled (FESPIC Games) slated to open here on Saturday.

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A Chinese sports delegation with some 300 members arrived here on Wednesday for the8th Far East and South Pacific Games for the Disabled (FESPIC Games) slated to open here on Saturday.

Aimed at keeping on their domination of the regional event for the disabled athletes as they had done in the four previous games,the Chinese contingent came here determined to do as well as their able-bodied colleagues, who won 150 gold medals at the 14th Asian Games that concluded earlier this month, also in Busan.

Jiao Dongcun and Zhang Guanwei, Chinese Consul General and Chinese Consul based in Busan, meet the Chinese officials, athletes and coaches at the Gimhae International Airport here.

"The FESPIC Games provide a good chance for Chinese athletes to prepare for the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens and the 2008 Games back in Beijing," Jiao said.

"Everyone in our office would do all they can, together with overseas Chinese, students and our friends here, to make Chinese athletes and coaches feel at home in Busan," he added.

The diplomat encouraged Chinese athletes to give their best shot for honor and learn from athletes from the hosting country South Korea, for their impressive performance at the World Cup tournament they had co-hosted with Japan earlier this year.

Some 200 cheerers consisted of Chinese students studying in South Korea, local students and residents crowded the exit of the Gimhae International Airport here. They waved Chinese national flags and sang in one voice "Victory to Chinese team. I love you, China, China, China..."

The Chinese delegation for the week-long Games here includes 206 athletes, which is the largest Chinese representation at the region's largest sporting event for the disabled.

The more than 200 athletes from 28 Chinese provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions average 27 years old at age. Half of them are making their debut at any comprehensive sporting event like the FESPIC Games.

The athletes had trained for 65 days at 11 camps across China.

The Chinese Paralympic Committee had replaced some medal hopefuls with promising youngsters for the Busan event, so that the younger athletes could accumulate experience through international competitions

The Chinese are to compete in 316 events of 14 sports includinga thletics, swimming, table tennis, power lifting, shooting and judo,in Busan.

Some 5,000 athletes from 42 FESPIC countries and regions are expected for the 525 events of 17 sports set on the Games program.

China joined in the FESPIC Games Federation in 1984 and Chinese athletes had topped the gold medal tally at the last four Games. At the Bangkok Games four years ago, China won a top-ranked 205 golds, 90 silvers and 45 bronzes for a medal tally of 340.

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