Press conference: Wushu Tournament Beijing 2008

China Daily

A lot of readers still don't understand. This is a special tournament. The medals that the athletes win will not be listed in the medals for the Olympic Games. Will the athletes participate the Opening Ceremony in the Olympic Games? What is the possibility that Wushu will be accepted as one of the events in the Olympic Games?

Wang Xiaolin

For the first question, the schedule of Wushu event is late, which is form August 21 to 24. After the end of Wushu tournament, the very night will be the Closing Ceremony of the Olympic Games. The athletes will get registered on August 18, so they will not participate in the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games. As for the possibility of the athletes participating in the Closing Ceremony, I'm not so sure yet. But we will arrange activities for these athletes. These activities will be arranged by IWUF and BOCOG. Even though Wushu is not the formal event of the Olympic Games, Wushu is a special event. That is the first on the Olympic history. So what we have arranged is that there will be a welcome reception on the evening of August 20. This will be hosted by the IWUF and the Chinese Wushu Association. The purpose of the reception is to welcome the international athletes participating in the tournament. As for the gold medals of Wushu and the relationship of the gold medals and the Olympic Games, since Wushu is not a formal event in the Games, the gold medals of Wushu won't be counted as Olympic medals. There is no relationship between these types of medals.

As to the 2nd question about the possibility of Wushu to be accepted as a formal event of the Olympic Games, we appreciated IOC and IFs that they have given us a very positive assessment of Wushu development. But I personally think that if Wushu is to be accepted as the formal event for the Olympics, this is our goal to strive. We are very confident. But I personally think that there is a long way to go.

There are 2 deciding factors. First of all, IOC is trying to trim down, as everybody knows. Four years from now, in the London Olympic Games, the 28 sports will be reduced to 26. In this kind of situation, if Wushu wants to become a formal event, I don't think it will have any advantages. The second deciding factor is that a lot of the Wushu aficionado and friends have promoted Wushu. Our members spread out to 120 countries and regions. But as everybody knows, a lot of events are trying to apply to be the formal event of the Olympic Games. Wushu itself has its own advantages. But on the other hand, it has to work harder to complete itself. So on this issue, of course we are very resolute but each step we take has to be firm.

Beijing Sports Radio

In the past experience, there are a lot of events entered into continental events and then be called as international event. As far as you know, which continental event Wushu used to be in?

Wang Xiaolin

Wushu has been a formal event of Asian Games since 1990. It is a formal event in East Asian Games, Southeast Asian Games, and South Asian Games. Next year, in Bangladesh, Wushu will be the formal event of South Asian Games. Right now, West Asian Games are still thinking about of accepting Wushu as a formal event. Wushu has a very positive development in Asia. It also has a pretty good development in Europe. We have more than 40 members in Europe. In the last few years, the level of Wushu in Europe has been very good, both in women's and men's taolu and sanshou. So from Wushu Tournament Beijing 2008, you will definitely see that kind of performance. So if everything goes well, European athletes will possibly get the gold medals in Wushu Tournament Beijing 2008 including taolu and sanshou. Currently, what we are doing is to make efforts that Wushu would enter in African Games and Pan-American Games.

We have to meet a few conditions but we still need time to work it out. For example, for the African Games, we have to go to the countries. There are 38 countries there. We will be participating in the Games. We have 21 countries in Africa as members for the time being. We still have to meet the remaining conditions before being titled in those Games. We are determined and we are confident. We can try step by step. Wushu can become a comprehensive sports event. Wushu is not only a sport; it is also a good way of the fitness of the body. We want to promote it in the world so that everyone in the world can take advantage of taking this sport.

Shaanxi Huashang Newspaper

Mr. wang, I came from Shaanxi. At MPC, I have seen journalists wearing vests of kungfu. So maybe it is a hot topic. For many people Wushu coming as a tournament, it is a very exciting thing. My question is whether Wushu is going to be taken part in the opening and closing ceremony of the Olympic Games. What is the actual situation for Wushu?

Wang Xiaolin

During the Beijing Olympic Games, with the approval of BOCOG, Wushu can hold a tournament in Beijing and have 15 medals to be delivered, we are very proud and we are really thankful to IOC that it is supporting Wushu. It is not only recognition of Wushu, it is also the attention paid to the Chinese culture and respect to the Chinese culture. There are people saying this is not enough. Wushu should be a formal event. I think it is because IOC has its own rules, according to the rules of IOC, in order to be a formal events, you have to apply 7 years ahead before the Beijing Olympics. In 2001 when Beijing won the bid in Moscow to be the organizer of the Olympic Games in 2008, we announced that there will be a Wushu tournament. As I remember, there are 28 sports and 302 events, according to IOC's charter and rules, there are really restrict rules to be respected, to be observed. On December 6, 2006, we got the approval of IOC that there will be the event tournament this time. This is a very good result. This is a recognition as I said for Wushu. If you want Wushu to be a former event, overnight it is impossible. You have to go through procedures. We have to go through the application, demo, you have to have the green light, the roting system, you have to be approved and accepted. I personally believe in 2001, when we won the bid to organize Beijing Olympics in 2008, we also gain the recognition of Wushu. It is a good support of Wushu. Thank you.

Reporter from Spain

I heave two questions for Mr. Wang. As far as I know, there is some kind of debate if Wushu should be a formal sport and if it will become an Olympic sport. If it becomes an Olympic sport, then it is in contradiction with the traditional Chinese martial arts. I would like to know your opinion.

Wang Xiaolin

Thank you for your question. Let me say this: Wushu, as a sport, has common points with other sport. But Wushu is very unique. Wushu is not only a sport, but also embodies a long history of China. Wushu is closely linked to the long history and culture of China. If Wushu becomes a sport of Olympic Games, it is not in contradiction with Chinese culture and spirit. I remember that in 2007, Mr. Rogge, president of IOC, came to Beijing. He went to Henan and visited the Shaolin Temple. He watched Shaolin Kong Fu performance. After the performance, he said, 'I think Wushu is really inline with the Olympic spirit.

That is why I believe in Wushu are two parts. One of them is the competing side of the martial arts, and the other is the traditional martial arts. Wushu promotes both of these two aspects at the same time. Wushu Tournament Beijing 2008 is a very big event. This year later from October 28 to November 3, World Traditional Martial Arts Championship will be held in Hubei. The first and second were held in Beijing. But this time, it is the first time that this event being held in Hubei, Wudangshan, a mountain. This means that Wushu people from outside the world also pay attention of the credo of Wushu in Hubei.

If one day, Wushu becomes a formal event in the Olympic Games, this would help boost the spirit of Wushu. It won't be in contradiction with the tradition, because I think that the current situation of the international sport will make people understand that when Wushu becomes an official event in the Olympic Games, it will attract more attention of the world. As the president of Wushu Association and secretary general of International Wushu Federation, I also believe Wushu is a very hard working sport. I know the training is very demanding. I think that if it becomes the comprehensive and intercontinental sports, even further will become official sports of the Olympic Games, it will be in favor of the future development of sports. Of course, we have met many conditions before achieving the goal. I don't think it is in contradiction with the tradition and the spirit of martial arts.

France 24

My question is very practical, when will the competition of Wushu take place? Are you disappointed that Wushu is not officially in the Games?

Wang Xiaolin

I already announced the actual time for the tournament. It will be at 9 o'clock of August 21. There are competitions every day in the morning, afternoon and evening. And you will have a sanshou and taolu. Sanshou will be at 9:30 a.m. on the morning of August 24. In the morning or evening there will be more taolu, men's and women's taolu. So media from foreign countries, you are most welcome to see the competitions. And your comments will be mostly welcome.

As for the second part of your question, actually my previous answer has already replied to your question. Wushu, if it wants to be become an official event of the Olympic event, it should go through a procedure. I am not unhappy because Wushu is not a formal event. I am realistic. On the contrary, I can say, for the Olympics is the top event of sports, if we can take advantage of this Games, and take it as a show case to the Chinese Wushu, we can get benefit from it. Thank you.

AFP

One question is on figures. Could you tell me the number of the people who are practicing Wushu, particularly in China and throughout the world? Second question is about the fact that you raised before. There are fewer disciplines in the next Games. If Wushu comes in, it will take place of the other sports. What other sports will Wushu take in order to get in?

Wang Xiaolin

To your first question, maybe as Secretary General of International Wushu Federation, I don't have the figure of people practicing Wushu in the world because we don't have common statistic system. I can only say that outside China in the five continents, because of my work, wherever I go abroad, I can meet people practicing Wushu everywhere. The Chinese delegation went to Africa, America, Australia, Europe, and wherever we go, we were warmly welcomed. Sometimes, people came to us after the performance. Sometimes the public doesn't allow us to leave because they have so many questions. Once in a small city of Spain, by the end of the performance, all the spectators were standing up and they don't want to sit down, because they were so excited. I think there are 200 million people but I don't have the exact number. I hope it is not wrong. I think 200 million is a conservative estimation. It could reach more.

For the second question, I already answered, I think. If Wushu wants to be a formal Olympic event, it has to overcome a few difficulties, because IOC is decreasing the sports numbers but not increasing them. Yet we are determined and confident we will take it a step by step. We will go and try to become an official event and official sport of the Olympic Games one day. We sincerely hope that during the period we will have your support and IOC's support.

Japanese reporter

Earlier, I was able to experience the fantastic performance, I also practice myself so I plan to watch the tournament. My question is not directly related to the tournament. Yesterday, there was an incident in Kashi, also there is a bombing in Yunan province, so a number of these events occurred prior to the opening ceremony. How do you feel about the individuals taking such actions?

Wang Xiaolin

I can only answer half of your question. First of all, thank you for the compliments for our athletes. You come from Japan. We have a very good exchange in Japan. In Japan, Japanese people have a very huge Taiji boxing team, and even disabled people practice Taiji boxing. This allowed Taiji boxing to become a cure for disabled people in Japan. Usually in a tournament there are thousands of people attending the tournament in Japan, so they are king in this sport. Sometimes, we can even learn from the Japanese practitioners of Wushu. To the second half of your question, I'm not in the position to answer, so Mr. Sun will answer.

Sun Weide

Let me add a few words, you mentioned the explosion in Xinjiang Kashi and the case is under the investigation, the 2 suspects have been arrested and detained. We should point out that the security work for the Games is the foundation for the success of the Games.

The Chinese government and Beijing government as well as BOCOG play high attention to the security of the Games. Each special team is composed of personnel from different government departments to ensure the safety of the security of the Games. In light of the international practice and law of China, we have taken necessary and effective measures and protection and security. With regard to the various measures which have been fully implemented, we have been prepared for any threat to the security of the Games. I believe that under the leadership of the government and the support of the international community, we are convinced and confident that the Games will be secured and safe. Now that is the end of the press conference, thank you for coming.