Shanghai will enhance its status as one of Asia's major sports hubs by staging 37 major domestic and international competitions this year, municipal spokeswoman Jiao Yang told a news conference yesterday.

The full bill of major sporting events will also serve to whet Chinese appetites for the Beijing Olympics.

"These international sport events will help further popularize the Olympic movement in China," Jiao said. "They are intended to warm up the Chinese people for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games."

In addition to returning events such as the Tennis Masters Cup, Formula One Grand Prix and the HSBC golf championship, there are a few new arrivals, including a world swim meet and the A1 Grand Prix to add to the city's growing sports portfolio.

The World Swimming Championships (25 meters), which runs from April 4 to 9, will feature such prominent athletes as multiple international title holders Brooke Hanson from Australia and Kaitlin Sandeno from the United States and home favorite Luo Xuejuan, the gold medalist in the women's 100 meter breast stroke at the Athens Olympics.

Some 600 swimmers from more than 100 countries will be vying for 40 gold medals at the championships, to be held at the suburban Qizhong Sports Center.

Before the swimmers make their first splash, however, the city will host its first A1 Grand Prix World Championship. All eyes will be on the Shanghai International Circuit between March 31 and April 2, where the fast-growing A1 Grand Prix series, dubbed the World Cup of motor sports, wraps up its inaugural season. Drivers competing in the fledgling global tour use identical machines and race under their country's flag.

Among the other events, the International Cycling Race Chongming Island and Hong Kong-Shanghai tour will get the adrenaline flowing among biking buffs, and the Rock Climbing World Cup in Jing'an District and the World Beach Volleyball Tour Jinshan Open will help broaden the city's sports vision.

(Shanghai Daily March 16, 2006)