The Chinese national track and field team has decided to put more time into learning English. The first academic step for the athletes will be to invite English teachers from colleges.

Head coach of the Chinese athletics team, Feng Shuyong, said most of the Chinese athletes know nothing about English except one or two words and many are not willing to go abroad alone.

The first academic step for the athletes will be to invite English teachers from colleges.

American star sprinter Michael Johnson will give a few lectures for the Athens Olympics-bound Chinese athletes between June 14 and 18, also forming a part of their linguistic endeavors.

Liu Xiang, the bronze medallist in the men's 110m hurdles at last year's world championships, admits his English is poor and he is studying the language hard in his spare time.

Source: China Radio International