Liu Xiang apologises for pullout

Superstar hurdler tells state broadcaster he plans comeback

Superstar hurdler Liu Xiang issued an apology on national television yesterday for his shock withdrawal from the Olympic 110 metres hurdles on Monday, while the central government and sponsors busily reinforced his image as a tragic hero.

Speaking to state broadcaster China Central Television, Liu, 25, also pledged to make a comeback.

'I feel very bad about pulling out,' Liu said, still visibly distressed. 'So many people are worried and care for me. I have to apologise to them.

'I didn't feel right when I was warming up before the race. I knew my foot would fail me,' he said, describing his feeling at the time was 'beyond words'.

'I am not that type of person. I never quit easily. I believe I will come back.'

The interview was quickly picked up by major mainland websites, drawing an overwhelmingly sympathetic reaction from the public.

Some directed their disappointment at the sports authorities' handling of the whole episode and said a lack of transparency kept the public in the dark until the last minute.

'Up until now, we are still being kept in the dark over the extent of the injury, the treatment plan and the expected time for recovery,' Bocog media official Xu Jicheng wrote in his personal blog.

'By contrast, when the other Chinese sports icon, Yao Ming, was found crippled by a foot injury halfway through his NBA season six months ago, the concerned parties ... immediately made public all the details, which won them trust and understanding.

'That level of transparency, which was not seen in the handling of Liu's case, would help appease wild speculation and meet the public's legitimate demand for information.'

Suspicion and conspiracy theories flourished in cyberspace, with fingers pointed at either Chinese sports officials or sponsors.

In an apparent attempt to dispel the rumours, the mainland government has mobilised all the state-owned media to steer the attention towards Liu's tenacious efforts to combat injury and the public sympathy for the sports icon.

'Liu remains the national hero despite the pullout,' a Xinhua headline screamed.

'From him, from his tenacious struggle with injuries over the years, his last-minute attempt to defeat the pain in particular, we saw fine sportsmanship at work. That is what the Olympics are all about.'

Liu's sponsors, including sportswear giant Nike, beverage powerhouse Coca-Cola and Ping An Life Insurance, also committed themselves publicly.

Nike even bought print advertisements featuring the face of the track star in many of the country's major newspapers. It read: 'Love competition. Love risking your pride. Love winning it back. Love giving it everything you've got. Love the glory. Love the pain. Love sport even when it breaks your heart.'

An executive of Nike Media China told Xinhua: 'The advertisement ... expresses our support for him.'