Zhang Guozheng, 2004 Athens Olympic weightlifting champion, is
at the center of a dramatic tug-of-war between China's Yunnan and
Shanxi provinces since he will most certainly be a title contender
at next year's Olympics in Beijing .
Zhang represented Yunnan Province during his gold medal win in
Athens three years ago, but now he claims to represent Shanxi. Each
province, in turn, has claimed Zhang as its own.
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Athens Olympic
weightlifting champion Zhang Guozheng has been involved in a
tug-of-war between China's Yunnan and Shanxi provinces. Both sides
want him to be a registered member in order to collect a
"profitable return" if Zhang defends his Olympic title in
the Beijing Olympic
Games next year.
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Winning an Olympic gold medal undoubtedly brings global glory for
both an individual and his country. But in China, winning is also a
big deal for the province, autonomous region or municipality where
the athlete has registered.
China's hukou, or household registration system, is the main
factor behind this struggle between regions. Every national team
member represents the province in which he is registered. The more
champions a province produces, the more financial support it gets
from the State General Administration of Sports (SGAS), the
governing body for all Chinese sports. Moreover, a province's
sporting achievements go a long way toward the political future of
provincial officials in charge of sports.
In 1995, Zhang, who was actually born in Fujian Province,
registered in Yunnan. Zhang's victory in 2004 made him the first
Olympic champion from that province, located in southwest
China.
But Zhang decided to switch to Shanxi recently, claiming his
contract with Yunnan had expired early this year, even though
Yunnan insisted the rules allow it to retain the preferential
rights to Zhang and extend the contract.
"Yunnan did not give me the basic salary in the last two years.
They just want their interests from my sporting career," Zhang
said, addressing his reasons for the switch.
Zhang's form began to slump after 2004 and the weightlifter said
Yunnan refused to extend its contract with him because the province
regarded him as no longer "a valuable person".
"Even after the 2000 Sydney Olympics, officials from the
province's sports bureau showed hatred towards me, which made me so
sad. I know because I only finished fourth in Sydney and they
thought I had no value anymore," Zhang said. "To make it worse, in
2002 during my training for the national team, they did not give me
any financial or medical support."
But officials from Yunnan told a press conference that it was
Zhang who refused to sign the contract.
"I know Zhang Guozheng has switched to Shanxi, but it does not
mean we have given up the preferential right," said He Guangyu, who
is in charge of athletics for the Yunnan Sports Bureau. "Last year
we asked him to register but he said 'no' due to the salary
problem. Now he signed with another province and it's
unacceptable."
In China, athletes have the right to choose their province of
registration. Many, understandably, turn to those provinces that
promise to provide the best financial, medical and technical
support.
Zhang and Yunnan were in a honeymoon phase after the Athens
Olympics. But it did not last long, as Zhang failed to win even the
national championship in 2005.
"The contract expired last year. I have not taken any salary or
training allowance since then. I have nothing to do with Yunnan
right now," Zhang said.
"I signed with Shanxi, which has been approved by the
administrative center. Shanxi's promise convinced me to move."
Zhang, now 33, made a strong return in September after winning
the world title in the 69kg class. He has once again emerged as a
gold-medal contender for the Beijing Olympics.
"I represented Shanxi when I won the world championships in
September. I know the prime time of career was closely linked to
Yunnan. But it's a trade agreement and it's now over (with
Yunnan)."
The final result is yet to be ruled on by the SGAS, but the rift
has disrupted Zhang's training schedule.
"I am almost devastated. My daily training is badly affected. I
just hope it'll be settled as soon as possible," Zhang said. "I
want to be focused on the preparation and reach the best form in
the Beijing Olympics."
Ma Wenguang, Director of the Weightlifting, Wrestling and Judo
Administrative Center under SGAS said it is a technicality issue
and not difficult to deal with.
"As long as both sides obey the rules, it's not complicated to
settle the dispute. We will announce the final decision soon," he
said.
Similar cases to Zhang's have happened frequently in China.
Snooker sensation Ding Junhui has been chased by Shanghai,
Beijing, Guangdong Province and Jiangsu Province after the teenager
became one of the world's elite players.
China's first male Winter Olympic gold medalist Han Xiaopeng
also suffered the headache after winning freestyle skiing aerials
in Turin last year, as Liaoning Province and Heilongjiang Province
fought over him.
And in basketball, Beijing and Xinjiang went to war over the
rights of former NBA player Menk Bateer. China Basketball
Association (CBA) finally ruled Bateer belonged to Xinjiang,
despite Beijing's bitter protests.
(China Daily October 26, 2007)
