World gymnastics champions will have an opportunity in the
coming days to test the venue for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games,
as the Gymnastics International Invitational Tournament will be
held from today until next Monday at the National Indoor Stadium,
the home of the gymnastics competitions for the Beijing Games.
China's Cheng Fei, a triple gold medalist in vault, floor
exercise and women's team at the 2006 World Championships, will
lead a young host team. Chellsie Memmel, the 2005 world all-around
champion, will lead the visiting US women's team.
Fabian Hambuechen from Germany, the 2006 men's vault world
champion, is also expected to shine.
The test event for the Beijing Games will attract 104 athletes
from 21 countries and regions to compete in 12 events, including
men's team, women's all-around and 10 individual events.
China's women's team will also include 2006 world-champion team
member Zhou Zhuoru, Pang Panpan and 2007 world runner-up team
member Jiang Yuyuan. The men's team will feature a group of
untested youngsters.
"We have sent strong athletes from the women's team, some of
whom are among the top in China and will very likely be included on
the Olympic team," said Lu Shanzhen, head coach for China's
national women's team. "Since most of them are still young, they
lack experience in international competitions, so we hope they
could adapt to the venue and Olympic competition program through
this test event."
Lu said the veteran Cheng, who was just named the team's
captain, still needs to improve her movements and get herself into
shape for the Olympics.
The Trampoline Invitational Tournament will also be held at the
venue at the same time as the gymnastics tournament.
Running from November 30 to December 3, the trampoline
tournament will attract 32 athletes from 13 teams.
The Chinese team includes Huang Shanshan, the bronze medalist at
the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and Ye Shuai, the 2007 Canada World
Championships gold medalist.
(China Daily November 28, 2007)