Olympics inclusion a big boost to Chinese golf
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Zhu Dingyao, executive president of the Mission Hills Golf Club, said on Wednesday that the inclusion of golf as an Olympic sport would help enhance the level of Chinese golfers.
"China's golf industry has enjoyed a huge boost after golf won a place at the 2016 Olympics," Zhu told reporters on the sidelines of the golf World Cup at the Mission Hills club.
Zhu said he believes that following the glory of Beijing Olympics, China will definitely wish to consolidate its position as a sporting power.
"Chinese sports authorities would be devoting more resources to the development of golf in the country due to its Olympic status," he said.
Zhu also said that the Mission Hills Golf Club will continue to offer the best facilities to Chinese golfers to help them rise to the world stage.
Mission Hills, which was founded by Zhu's father Zhu Shuhao in 1992, has grown into the world's largest golf club.
"My father has always hoped to bring the world's best to China to spark public interest in golf, so he decided to bid for the World Cup in 1995," recalled Zhu.
The 1995 World Cup marked the first time that golf competition was televised in China and in 2007, Mission Hills won the right to host the Golf World Cup for the next 12 years.
"Around 150,000 fans came and watched the World Cup in 2007, and the number of spectators exceeded 30,000 last year," said Zhu.
"This year's World Cup, featuring several big names, will draw more spectators after golf was included in the Olympics. We will also adopt the high-definition signal to televise the event across China."
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