The 11th IAAF World Junior Championships concluded on Sunday evening in Beijing after six day's competition. It was one of the largest sporting events held in the Chinese capital before the 2008 Olympics.

 

Over the past six days, more than 1,400 athletes from home and abroad competed in 44 sports to see one world junior record and ten championships records been refreshed.

 

Traditional powerhouse in world athletics, Kenya, finished on top of the medal tally with six golds, six silvers and three bronze medals.

 

Host China followed with 5 golds, 5 silvers and 7 bronzes, a better result than the previous championships in 2004.

 

Feng Shuyong, head coach of China's track and field team, says he is very satisfied with the performance of Chinese athletes.

 

"We have about 50 percent of those who did their best or even better than their personal best. I'm very happy with this. It's really important for the future of these junior athletes."

 

However, Feng Shuyong stresses that Chinese athletes need to improve their levels to face the tough challenges in the 2008 Olympics.

 

"This performance level is still far not enough. For these junior athletes, they need to make full use of the time in the next two years to try to improve their performance level and make their performance more stable."

 

With less than two years to go before 2008, the world junior championships are also an important rehearsal for the coming Games in Beijing.

 

Sergey Bubka, chairman of the IOC's Athletes' Commission, says the championships give China an all-round test for the Olympics. And he believes that the host country will present a successful game in 2008.

 

"I don't have any doubt about the success of 2008.Through my visits, I can see how they are improving. I don's have any concern. They will show great performance and everything will be ready on time."

 

Most of the teenage athletes, who took part in this year's IAAF game, will grow up and compete for their own countries in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Here we wish them good luck!

 

(CRI August 21, 2006)