German delegation anticipates fierce competitions in Beijing
5/8/2008 16:59
German Olympic Committee (GOC) President Thomas Bach said in Beijing today
that his athletes cannot wait to take part in the competitions at Beijing Games
as homelike services helped them store up strengh and energy.
After a
flag-raising ceremony at the Olympic Village, Bach highly praised the
preparation work of the Beijing Organizing Committee, describing it as
"excellent and brilliant".
"Our athletes lived very well here and just feel
like at home. The rooms are comfortable and the food is very delicious," said
Bach.
"In a word, everything goes on smoothly and my athletes is ready and
looking forward to the fierce sport competitions." he added.
Chef de mission
Michael Vesper told Xinhua that his delegation will arrive in Beijing with 80
scheduled flights in succession.
Composed of a total of more than 450
athletes, Germany boast the biggest delegation in the Western Europe, aiming to
match at least the sixth-place finish they achieved in Athens four years
ago.
Among them, Yvonne Bohnisch, the gold medalist at Athens Games, would
become Germany's brightest prospects in the judo arena.
"It's my second
Olympics but first time in Beijing. Everything looks great," said Yvonne, adding
that German judokas were in good form and ready for the Games.
"Though judo
is a traditional discipline in East Asia, it's becoming more and more popular
among young people in Germany. We aim to get two or three medals in this
event."
Germany has witnessed the backslides in the past two Olympics.
In
Sydney, they won 57 medals including 14 golds and finished fifth on the medal
tally. But in Athens, the medal tally reduced to 49 with 13 golds and Germany
was surpassed by the resurgent Japan, well behind sports powerhouses the United
States, China, Russia and Australia.
If they hope to stop the slide in the
sweltering heat in August, the "ice and snow kings" who had topped the medal
table at the 2006 Turin Winter Games, had to fuel their medals drive on the
traditional disciplines.
Canoeing, handball, hockey, women's football and the
equestrian are Germany's favorite events in summer Games.
Xinhua
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