Download
China expects a strong performance at the Sochi Winter Olympics while also earning support for its bid to host the event in 2022.
China will send a 139-member delegation, including 66 athletes, 24 officials and 49 coaches and staff members, to compete in 49 events in four sports - skating, curling, skiing and biathlon - at the 2017 Sochi Winter Olympics, according to the General Administration of Sport of China. The Games will be held from Feb 7 to 23.
President Xi Jinping is to attend the opening ceremony on Feb 7, making him the first Chinese president to travel overseas for a major sporting event. Xi visited Russia last year after becoming president.
"President Xi's trip to Sochi, at Putin's invitation, shows China's support for the Olympic movement and reflects close China-Russia relations and friendship between the two heads of state," Li Hui, Chinese ambassador to Russia, told CCTV news on Sunday.
Sports Minister Liu Peng urged Chinese athletes to perform well in Sochi to establish a strong national image while earning international support for Beijing and Zhangjiakou's joint bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics.
China will have a tough time matching its medal tally from the Vancouver Winter Games in 2010 because of injuries and retirements, said Xiao Tian, vice-minister of sports and deputy head of the delegation.
"Despite the historical breakthroughs we achieved in Vancouver four years ago, China remains a small force in winter sports compared with international powers," Xiao said at a news conference to introduce the delegation on Sunday.
China bagged five gold, two silver and four bronze medals at the Vancouver Games, raising the nation's all-time Winter Olympics gold medal haul to nine since its debut at the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, the United States, in 1980.
Xiao said China expects to win two or three gold medals this year in speed skating, figure skating and freestyle aerial skiing - areas in which China has traditionally performed well.
China's short-track speed skating team, which took home four gold medals in Vancouver, suffered a blow when four-time Olympic titlist skater Wang Meng broke her right ankle after colliding with a male teammate during a training session in Shanghai.
Zhao Yinggang, director of the winter sports administration, confirmed on Sunday that Wang will not compete in the Games.
"It isn't realistic for her to resume training quickly after suffering from such a severe injury. Participating in the Olympics means a lot to every athlete, but this isn't the end of her career. Wang has a positive mindset during this tough moment," Zhao said.
Two-time Olympian Zhou Yang and world champion titlist Liu Qiuhong will lead the short-track contingent in the women's 500m and 3,000m relay races. China is also expected to perform well in the men's 1,000m race.
In figure skating, Olympic silver-winning pair Pang Qing and Tong Jian will lead a squad mixed with experience and youth.
"Because of my age, my fitness and skills may have declined. But the chemistry with my partner, who is now my girlfriend, will strengthen our artistic performance. We hope for a perfect ending this time," said Tong, who at 34 is the oldest athlete in the delegation.
The women's curling team as well as the freestyle skiing squad led by aerial specialists Li Nina and Qi Guangpu are also medal contenders.
Questions:
1. What sporting event is China hoping to host?
2. How many people will China send to Sochi Winter Olympics?
3. What events will China compete in at Sochi?
Answers:
1. Winter Olympics in 2022.
2. A delegation of 139 members.
3. Skating, curling, skiing and biathlon.
About the broadcaster:
Nelly Min is an editor at China Daily with more than 10 years of experience as a newspaper editor and photographer. She has worked at major newspapers in the U.S., including the Los Angeles Times and the Detroit Free Press. She is also fluent in Korean.
国际英语资讯:No progress made on long-standing territorial row during Abe-Putin summit
国内英语资讯:China pledges stability, reform in 2017 as key economic meeting ends
国际英语资讯:Cuba, Venezuela vow to revive regional socialist alliance
2017年高考英语二轮复习精品资料:专题15 完形填空(教学案)(原卷版)
国际英语资讯:Workers in Britain suffer longest decline in pay since days of Charles Dickens: trade union
国内英语资讯:Coast guards of Philippines, China vow to enhance cooperation
秘鲁特警伪装成圣诞老人,攻破贩毒窝点!
脸书的年终总结:2016老外最关心这10件大事!
圣诞饼干和姜饼小人儿究竟是怎么来的?
【课堂新坐标】2017届高考英语(通用版)二轮复习短文改错专题训练:考法3 行文逻辑错误(含解析)
2017年高考英语二轮复习精品资料:专题16 书面表达(教学案)(教师版)
河南省天一大联考2017届高三上学期阶段性测试(三)(12月)英语试卷
国内英语资讯:China donates rice seeds to Typhoon-affected Philippine farmers
黑科技:动动手指,就能为手机充电?
关于人生的15则名人名言
牛津英语词典又收了一大波新词!你都认识吗
情商低下的9种表现,你中了哪条?
现在的圣诞习俗与过去有何不同?
【课堂新坐标】2017届高考英语(通用版)二轮复习短文改错专题训练:考法1 词法错误(含解析)
国际英语资讯:Abe, Putin discuss joint economic activities on islands amid territorial dispute