Look inside China’s secretive Olympic training camps

The Economist

22 Dec 201507:10

Summary

TLDRIn August, the world gathers for the 31st Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro. Amidst the global competition, the People's Republic of China aims to top the medal table with a strategic focus on their strengths. The Chinese government invests heavily in Olympic training, with 51,000 athletes at elite institutes and 400,000 children in local Olympic schools. Despite criticism of the intense training as child abuse, coaches argue the program offers superior education and opportunities. The potential reward for gold medalists includes a prestigious government job and a substantial cash prize, illustrating the high stakes and dedication in China's pursuit of Olympic glory.

Takeaways

🌍 The 31st Olympic Games are held in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, showcasing global athletic competition.
🏅 China is aiming to top the medal table, focusing on events where they have a competitive edge.
🤸‍♂️ Trampoline is one of the sports where China has high hopes, with Ga Le being a potential gold medalist.
🏫 China operates a vast sports training program, with 51,000 athletes training at elite institutes and 400,000 children in local Olympic schools.
👶 Recruitment for Olympic training begins at a young age, with children as young as six being tested for potential.
🔍 The recruitment process involves testing children's physical attributes such as height, weight, muscle mass, and posture.
🏋️‍♀️ Intensive training is a part of the program, with some critics arguing it borders on child abuse.
🏆 Coaches counter that the training provides better education and opportunities compared to regular schooling.
💰 Successful athletes, especially gold medal winners, are rewarded with high-ranking government jobs and substantial prize money.
💸 The Chinese government invests heavily in Olympic training infrastructure, spending over $1 billion in 2013 alone.

Q & A

What major event is taking place in Rio De Janeiro in August?
-The 31st Olympic Games are taking place in Rio De Janeiro in August.
What is the main focus of the Chinese athletes in the Olympics?
-The Chinese athletes focus on events that play to their strengths, with a ruthless strategy to top the medal table.
How many athletes are currently training at Elite National and Regional institutes in China according to the script?
-51,000 athletes are currently training at Elite National and Regional institutes in China.
What is the age at which children are recruited for intensive training at the training school south of Beijing?
-Children at the training school south of Beijing are recruited from the age of 6.
How long has Jin Weni been in intensive training according to the script?
-Jin Weni has been in intensive training for 3 years.
What is the role of recruiters like Shen Chen in the Olympic training program?
-Recruiters like Shen Chen visit hundreds of towns and villages, testing thousands of small children against specific physiological criteria for potential athletic talent.
What kind of criteria are the children tested against during the recruitment process?
-The children are tested against a host of specific physiological criteria including height, weight, muscle mass, and posture.
How much money did China invest into the national Olympic Training infrastructure in 2013?
-China invested more than $1 billion into the national Olympic Training infrastructure in 2013.
What are the critics' views on the intensive training programs described in the script?
-Critics say that intensive training programs like these are tantamount to child abuse.
What kind of rewards do gold medal winners usually receive in China?
-Gold medal winners are usually offered a high-ranking government job and receive around $200,000 in prize money.
What is the script's implication about the chances of children making it to the Olympics?
-The script implies that the chances of these children making it to the Olympics are statistically very small.

Outlines

00:00

🏅 China's Olympic Ambitions

The script introduces the 31st Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro and highlights China's strategy to dominate the medal table. It discusses the secretive nature of China's Olympic training camps and their focus on events where they excel. The story of GA Le, a 23-year-old trampoline athlete, is shared as an example of China's mass recruitment and training program. The program, which includes 51,000 athletes at elite institutes and 400,000 children in local Olympic schools, is portrayed as a rigorous system aimed at identifying and nurturing future Olympic champions.

05:01

💰 Investment and Controversy in China's Training Programs

This paragraph delves into the financial investment China has made into its Olympic training infrastructure, amounting to over $1 billion in 2013 alone. It contrasts the scale of this investment with the criticism that such intensive training programs are akin to child abuse. The coaches defend the programs, arguing that the children receive a superior education and opportunities. The paragraph also touches on the slim chances of these children reaching the Olympics and the life-changing rewards for those who succeed, including high-ranking government jobs and substantial prize money.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Olympic Games

The Olympic Games are an international multi-sport event held every four years, bringing together athletes from around the world to compete in various sports. In the video, the 31st Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro are the central event, highlighting the global competition and the quest for supremacy in the medal table.

💡People's Republic of China

The People's Republic of China is a country that is portrayed as having a strategic plan to excel in the Olympics. The script mentions China's secretive training camps and their focus on events where they have a competitive edge, aiming to top the medal table.

💡Mass Recruitment

Mass Recruitment refers to the large-scale selection process of athletes for training in various sports. The script describes China's system where thousands of athletes are part of a national program, starting from a young age, to identify and train potential Olympic champions.

💡Elite Training

Elite Training is the intensive and specialized coaching provided to athletes who show exceptional promise in their respective sports. The video discusses how Chinese athletes like GA Le are trained by coaches who have produced gold medal winners, emphasizing the high level of focus and dedication required.

💡Trampoline

Trampoline is a sport that involves athletes performing acrobatics while bouncing on a trampoline. In the script, trampoline is highlighted as one of the events where China aims to secure representation and potentially win medals, with GA Le being one of the two men chosen to represent the country.

💡National Olympic Training Infrastructure

National Olympic Training Infrastructure refers to the facilities, resources, and systems established by a country to train athletes for the Olympics. The video mentions that China invested over $1 billion into its Olympic training infrastructure, indicating the scale and seriousness of their Olympic preparation.

💡Physiological Criteria

Physiological Criteria are the biological and physical characteristics used to assess an individual's potential in sports. The script describes how children in China are tested against specific physiological criteria such as height, weight, muscle mass, and posture to determine their suitability for various sports.

💡Child Athletes

Child Athletes are young individuals who are trained and compete in sports often from a very young age. The video discusses the controversial aspect of intensive training programs in China, where children as young as six are recruited and trained for the Olympics, raising questions about the ethics of such practices.

💡Critics

Critics in this context refer to those who disapprove of or express concern about the intensive training programs for child athletes in China. The script mentions that critics equate these programs to child abuse, highlighting the debate over the welfare of young athletes.

💡Gold Medal Winners

Gold Medal Winners are athletes who secure the top position in their respective events at the Olympic Games. The video notes the rewards for these athletes, such as high-ranking government jobs and substantial prize money, emphasizing the life-changing impact of Olympic success.

💡Lifechanging Reward

A lifechanging reward refers to the significant benefits or opportunities that come with achieving success in the Olympics, particularly winning a gold medal. The script illustrates this with the example of gold medal winners in China, who are offered prestigious positions and financial rewards.

Highlights

The 31st Olympic Games will be held in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil in August.

China aims to top the medal table at the Rio Olympics.

China has a secretive Olympic training program that Western media rarely gets access to.

China focuses on events that play to their strength to compete for supremacy.

Only two men will represent China in trampoline at the Rio Olympics, with 23-year-old GA Le tipped to be one of them.

GA Le's coach has already produced two gold medal winners in trampoline.

China has the world's largest mass recruitment and sports training program.

51,000 athletes are currently training at Elite National and Regional institutes in China.

An additional 400,000 children are housed in local Olympic schools across China.

Hong Joo is a 9-year-old in intensive training for 3 years, aiming for the Olympics.

Recruiters like Shen Chen visit hundreds of towns and villages, testing thousands of children for specific physiological criteria.

The recruitment process uses a scientific approach considering height, weight, muscle mass, and posture.

Jinwen Shei displays early signs of being an Olympic champion with the right physical attributes for trampoline.

In 2013, China invested over $1 billion into the national Olympic training infrastructure, more than any other government.

Critics argue that intensive training programs in China are tantamount to child abuse.

Coaches argue that these children receive better education and opportunities than others.

The chances of these children making it to the Olympics are statistically very small.

Gold medal winners in China are usually offered high-ranking government jobs and receive around $200,000 in prize money.

Winning Olympic medals is not cheap, implying the high cost of China's Olympic training program.