The Chinese handball squad will move into the Olympic Village on Monday, marking the start of their Olympic venture.

Meng Wei, team leader of the Chinese handball squad, told Xinhua here in a telephone interview on Sunday, "Both the men's and women's sides will leave their training camp for the Olympic Village at 9 am tomorrow. The whole team will include 38 members."

It will be the first time for the Chinese men's handball team to compete in the Olympic Games. Being a minnow in the handball world, they get their Olympic ticket as the host.

However, the young team, averaging 24 years old, will treasure this chance to experience world top class competition and try their best to grab one victory.

Yan Weiming, head coach of the men's team said, "Although we are leaving our training camp tomorrow, we shall not let the players feel over-relaxed. We will have a training session tomorrow afternoon, right after the players settle down in the village."

Yan Liang, pivot of the men's team said, "It will be my first time to stay in an Olympic village, but I am not that excited as I expected. Maybe because the Olympics will be held in our own country."

(Xinhua News Agency August 4, 2008)