Italian gymnastics coach reminds China of possible home disadvantage
31/7/2008 17:58
An Italian gymnastics coach has reminded Olympic hosts China of the
possible home disadvantage due to pressure.
Enrico Casella, head coach of the
Italian women gymnasts, told Xinhua that China must be strong-minded to cope
with higher expectations piled on them competing on home soil.
Casella
considered world champion Shawn Johnson and Anastasia Liukin, both from the
United States, as biggest opponents to Italy's super star Vanessa Ferrari.
"I
have to see if the Chinese can stand the mental pressure," he said.
"I prefer
not to have the Olympics in Rome. Everybody will be watching her - I'm talking
about Vanessa.
"If Rome have the Olympic Games, she will (collapse). In
Beijing is better," he said.
Ferrari, 17, became Italy's first woman gymnast
to win an all-around world title at the 2006 world championships in Aarhus,
Denmark.
As many predict that hosts will top the Beijing Olympics medal
table, Chinese sports officials have asked the media not to over-evaluate the
Chinese delegation, saying that gold medals are not a must-be task.
Chinese
gymnastics head coach Huang Yubin said earlier that his team felt
nervous.
Xinhua
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