International journalists were given a rare opportunity to meet and chat with some of China's Olympic athletes at the weekend to see how they are preparing for this summer's Games.

The media center of the body organizing the Beijing Games arranged a visit to the training camps of the judo, wrestling, tennis and field hockey teams at the Olympic Sports Center, just south of the Bird's Nest.

Tennis star and Grand Slam champion Zheng Jie and judo world champion Tong Wen were among the athletes answering questions from the group of about 200 international journalists.

"Can each of you tell us something fun during your training," Mei Fong of the Wall Street Journal asked a group of five Olympians during the Q&A session.

"Apart from my normal training, I also enjoy KTV, shopping and blogging," said 24-year-old Zheng Jie, who will team up with 23-year-old Yan Zi for the women's tennis doubles.

"I like shopping," Tong Wen, the women's judo star, said. The 180-cm, 128-kg prospect is favored to dominate the over-78 kg category this summer.

"Tong Wen is being modest," Zhang Haifeng, director of media relations with the general administration of sports, which organized the event, said.

"As far as I'm concerned, she also loves to dance."

Many of the journalists were eager to hear about the gold medal prospects of the home team, but their curiosity also ranged from athletes' diets to gold medal bonuses.

Journalists from the ABC television network and Japan's Asahi news were among the media called on to query athletes and senior sports officials, which included China's deputy sports chief Cui Dalin.

Astrid Freyeisen, a German journalist, said she was happy to have an opportunity to talk to the team leaders and coaches of the tennis and handball teams. She said she was curious about the selection process, training and personal lives of the athletes.

"It is very different how you choose Olympic teams in the West. That's always very interesting to hear how you do it in China," the Chinese correspondent of ARD Radio of Germany said.

"That's what I want to tell my audience."

She said she hoped journalists will be given more time with athletes in the future.

The event was the second time international journalists have been given access to the Olympic teams in training.

In November, more than 90 international journalists were given permission to visit the training camps of the gymnastics, diving and table tennis teams, as well as the opportunity to talk with members of the weightlifting, swimming and synchronized swimming squads.

(China Daily April 16, 2008)