CHINA'S GOLDEN PLAN

by Hester Brierley 19.08.08

Competition for success in elite sport is increasing with more nations now adopting strategic approaches towards the development of elite athletes and as a result, an increasing number of nations have developed genuine medal winning capability.

China’s progress up the medal table (third in Sydney, second in Athens and currently top of the table for Beijing) demonstrates that no country can rest on their laurels. An impressive tally of gold medals is a matter of national pride amongst other things, and China’s government made no bones that they would use the Olympics to raise the country’s profile and highlight it’s prowess in sport. They are well on track to prove what they set out to do.

How China have achieved this has remained fairly secretive, though if we consider three significant factors deemed necessary for a successful elite sport system such as financial support, talent identification, coaching provision and coach development – it is clear they have made significant advances in each.

China, whilst remaining secretive on actual spend, is seemingly at the head of a number of countries to have significantly ramped up spending on their elite sport system, GB included, and they now have strong state support and funding aligned with a clear-cut medals-focussed Olympics strategy. Formerly their medal focus was on those sports that required quick reflexes and flexibility such as gymnastics, table tennis, badminton and diving – rather those sports that require raw physical strength and stamina.

With Beijing then their target, the Chinese authorities identified sports in which they were historically weak and set about putting a programme in place to chase medals in those sports – including athletics, canoeing, rowing, sailing and swimming – according to reports, counting the medals available (119) and calling the masterplan “Project 119”.

The breakthrough of Liu Xiang in Athens where he became China’s first men’s Olympic gold medallist in track and field was proof that they could succeed in such sports.

In terms of identifying potential talent, one would assume that with a population of over 1.3 billion, the talent pool would be substantial. Though historically China was better known for developing quantity rather than quality, both in developing talent and training intensity – now appreciating that medal winning talent is difficult to replace and learning the value of rest and recuperation in reducing injuries, maximising performances and extending athletic careers.

This refocus may be partly due also due to the knowledge brought in by the Western coaches and scientists they employed to deliver their masterplan.

A masterplan that seems to be paying dividends, with China now well on it’s way to confirming itself as a sporting superpower.