Sichuan-based world champion diver Jia Tong can hardly concentrate in training after the 8.0-magnitude earthquake struck the southwestern Chinese province and killed over 40,000, said Jia's coach Gui Ying.

Sichuan divers resumed training on Thursday morning in the Sichuan Sports Institute, whose campus was dotted with tents.

"The earthquake has cast a shadow over these divers, who are worried about aftershocks and can easily lose concentration," said Gui.

"As a world champion, Jia is mentally stronger than other divers. But she is worried too."

Jia is twice world champion in the women's synchronized 10m platform event.

Sichuan sports director Zhu Ling told Xinhua that many provinces and municipalities have offered to host Sichuan athletes after the deadly earthquake on May 12.

Sichuan has 500 athletes on the provincial teams of various sports, including a dozen who were in Sichuan preparing for the Beijing Olympics when the deadly quake hit.

No athlete was killed or injured in the quake, Zhu said.

Jia and her teammates will be sent to the eastern province of Shandong for training. Also going to Shandong are the wrestling, swimming and women's soccer teams.

Sichuan's leading track and field athletes had left for Beijing to compete in the "Good Luck Beijing" Olympic athletics test event which opens on Thursday, and they will stay in the Chinese capital after the event.

Sichuan's gymnasts and Wushu players are leaving for Guangxi for training while Hubei will host Sichuan's badminton team, according to Zhu.

Yunnan will take in the volleyball teams, Shanghai the synchronized team, Guizhou the table tennis teams, said the sports director.

The Sichuan Sports Institute, which used to gather two thirds of the provincial-level athletes, has a few gymnasiums and dormitory buildings listed as "hazardous buildings", said Zhang Rongwei, principal of the institute.

Zhang admitted most athletes who resumed training after the earthquake were in low spirits.

"For their safety and better concentration, we have to move the athletes out of the province," said Zhang.

(Xinhua News Agency May 22, 2008)