Athens Olympics awaken Asia
Athens Olympics awaken Asia
Agence France-Presse, Athens
A record-breaking medal haul confirmed Asia's emergence as the
sporting world's rising superpower, Olympic chief Jacques Rogge
declared Sunday.
A powerful display from China, a resurgent campaign from Japan
and strong showings from other nations such as South Korea and
Thailand ensured that Athens will be remembered as the Asian
games, Rogge said. South Korea took eight golds, Thailand won
three, Taiwan won two golds and Indonesia got one.
"What we have seen here in Athens is the awakening of Asia,"
International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Rogge told a
press conference ahead of Sunday's closing ceremony.
Rogge said the performances of Asia at the Olympics signaled a
shift in the balance of power. Established nations would have to
fight to avoid being overtaken at future games.
"This is the games where Asia was truly awakened. This is a
strong sign that Asian countries will be at full strength in
Beijing in four years time," Rogge said.
With 17 more titles to be decided on Sunday, China's total
medal tally stands at 62, including 31 golds, placing the Asian
giants second only behind the United States for their highest
finish at an Olympics.
China came to Athens aiming to consolidate its position from
Sydney as the third most powerful Olympic nation behind the
United States and Russia, but the Russians have been left far
behind with just 23 gold medals.
And China has a strong chance to extend its record-breaking
feats with another gold on the last day of the Games, with Chen
Zhong a favorite to defend her crown in the women's over-67kg
heavyweight taekwondo competition.
China Olympic Committee (COC) President Yuan Weimin said the
407-strong delegation had surpassed its pre-games expectations.
Yuan said China's decision to send a youthful squad of
athletes to the Olympics in order to groom a new crop of stars
for the 2008 Beijing Games had also been vindicated.
"We have completed the transition from the old to the new
generation," said Yuan, noting that seven of China's gold
medalists were under 20.
The feats of China's Olympians were the subject of breathless
eulogies in the country's media on Sunday.
"It's a new milestone for Chinese sports. Today is a holiday
for the Chinese people," China's state-run Xinhua news agency
proclaimed in an editorial.
Japan meanwhile was poised to equal its record haul, with news
that Koji Murofushi stood to be awarded the hammer throw gold
with the likely disqualification of Hungary's Adrian Annus for a
doping offense.
Thailand, with three golds, was also celebrating its best ever
Olympic performance, along with Taiwan, who won their first ever
gold medals with two titles in Taekwondo.