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BEIJING: All competition managers at the Beijing Olympics will come from the host country, a first since the 1996 Atlanta Games.
Zhang Jilong, director of the organising committee's sports department, said: "The International Olympics Committee, all the international sports federation and the BOCOG (Beijing Organizing Committee of the 29th Olympic Games) have all agreed that the competition managers of all 28 sports for the Beijing Olympic Games will be Chinese nationals."
Although competition managers do not help athletes win medals, they are crucial to ensuring that the games run smoothly and fairly for the players.
The sports managers must have a sound grasp of the sport, good organisational and public relation skills. Together, they will oversee the successful completion of over 2000 events for the Games this August.
The committee said it took pains to ensure that all competition managers would be Chinese nationals because it wants to raise the standard of competition management in the country, hoping this will benefit China's sporting culture in the future.
One aspect of the sports managers' job will include making sure that the Wukesong Indoor Stadium is in tip-top condition and is ready to host all basketball matches come August.
The arena, which can house 18,000 spectators, will host its first basketball match in April as part of a series of pre-Olympics test events. - CNA/ac
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