Winter Olympics: How Norway helped China to fulfil its grand Olympic ambitions ahead of the Beijing Games
- A deal between Norway and China saw 4,000 athletes identified as potential Olympians
- All 12 athletes who make up the Chinese cross-country team were trained on Norway’s iconic mountains that served as venues for the 1994 Winter Olympics
China has not been shy about its Winter Olympic ambitions. But when Beijing won the rights to host the 2022 Winter Olympics, Chinese athletes had not competed in almost a third of the sports on offer.
To combat this, some of the country’s top coaches hatched a plan to dominate winter sports at all levels. In 2017, China struck a deal with Norway to send athletes to its famed ski fields for what would be the start of an elite training programme that is now bearing fruit – particularly in cross-country skiing where several of the programme's alumni will compete at the this month’s Games.
An initial group of 4,000 potential athletes were found, and a shortlist of 120 people were then selected to test their skills on the same iconic mountains that served as venues for the 1994 Winter Olympics and the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics. With experience on the snow at a minimum, athletes were largely selected based on motivation, a “strong will” to take part in the Olympics and endurance.
Zhang Bei, team leader of the Chinese cross-country skiing team, said while China had few athletes with significant winter sports experience, the aim was to build a platform for future athletes to build on.
“Once Beijing became hosts, the Chinese government promised to have an excellent Olympic Games. But at the time we had very few athletes that could participate in some of the competitions,” Zhang said.
“We aimed to get participants in these new events like cross country, and we also wanted our young athletes to be able to put in a good performance at the Games, and learn from them for future events.
“Some of the athletes dropped off and went back to other sports, but others did very well and learned the techniques very rapidly.”
Benjamin Alexander, the Hong Kong DJ making his Olympics debut for Jamaica
Norway was an obvious partner, having won 39 medals at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in 2018.
“Our Norwegian partners gave us great guidance,” Zhang said. “Our hosts were very friendly, and they treated our athletes like part of their family. Norway is very beautiful, so our athletes had a really good time.
“They learned some English to communicate with the coaches, and then lots of ski techniques. It was very productive.”
Last week China unveiled a 12-member cross-country skiing squad for the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games – all of who were trained in Norway.
That skiers including Dinigeer Yilamujiang, Chin Degen, Chen Shuang, Chi Chinxue and Jialin Bayani are considered genuine medal contenders is remarkable, given China’s traditionally weak showing in the sport.
Trond Harberg, CEO of the Norwegian Top Sports College, who oversaw the cross-country programme, said many started out with no skiing experience, but quickly adapted.
“We had to build them up from the bottom, but their work ethic is very, very high,” Harberg said. “The progress was pretty good. We had an interpreter for English, but our coaches learned a little bit of Chinese.”
China will pay a particular focus to the women’s 4x5km relay, where the team has a chance to make history and stand on the podium for the first time, but they face fierce competition from Norway, Sweden and Russia.
“In cross country we started from zero, but the progress was really excellent,” Zhang, who served as rowing coach during the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics, said.
“There are still gaps between them and the established, experienced athletes. But they have got good enough to form a team for the Olympic Games. This is an incredible opportunity for them, and for all of us.”
Aside from training, lasting relationships are another legacy of the partnership and Zhang says a strong bond was formed between the two countries.
“When the Norwegians are racing in Beijing, we will definitely be cheering for them. It will be an honour to compete on the same track as them,” he said.
