Plain sailing predicted for 2008

　　By Xie Chuanjiao(China Daily)　

　　QINGDAO: After wrapping up 1 1 events in nine classes, the "Good Luck Beijing - 2006 Qingdao International Regatta", pulled down the curtain last night at the international sailing city in East China's Shandong Province, sending a strong message that the 2008 Olympic Sailing Events are in good hands.

　　More than 503 world-renowned athletes from 40 countries participated in the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Grade 2 International Regatta, also known as the test event of the 2008 Olympics.

　　The athletes along with their 300 plus sailboats and sailboards put on a spectacular performance for viewers in all classes, which featured all the Olympic sailing competition events.

　　The regatta adopted a new competition format. The top ten competitors from the first ten qualifying races took part in the final medal race day, while the points of the results were doubled.

　　"I would like to congratulate the organizing committee on staging an excellent regatta. As the first training and test event for the 2008 Olympics, this has gone exceptionally well," David Kellet, ISAF Vice-President for the 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition told China Daily yesterday.

　　Kellet singled out the venue - the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Centre, as worthy of praise.

　　"ISAF is very pleased with the result and feel that we are in an excellent position to move forward. The facilities created within this venue have worked extremely well and I know they will improve over the next year and will be exceptional in 2008. What a marvelous venue this will be. All involved should be extremely proud of what they have created."

　　The local people's and volunteers' friendliness and hospitality also left a deep impression on Kellet's mind.

　　"The organization on shore by all the volunteers was beyond our expectations. People of Qingdao have been very warm and friendly to all the sailors. The organization is first-class and far beyond what we expected. I think by the time the 2008 Olympics come around, the city of Qingdao will be celebrating," said Kellet.

　　"I made some constructive suggestions on how we can slightly improve the racing. One of the few areas is that we need to practice out on the water because we have a team of International Technical Officers (ITOs) and a team of National Technical Officers (NTOs) that are working together as a team for the first time. We need some practice in 2007, and by 2008 we are sure we will be ready," he added.

　　Kellet's credit was echoed by other officials.

　　"This venue in Qingdao is unsurpassed, compared to any sailing venues in past Olympic host cities. Essentially, Qingdao could hold the Olympics tomorrow," said David Tillett, Jury Chairman of the regatta, also Chairman of the Jury at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

　　"The sailing committee must be very proud of the venue, especially of the breakwater. As far as I know, more than 50,000 people have come to watch the sailing on the breakwater during the ten racing days, and millions viewed the event through the Internet, TV, radio and newspapers. I think the people of Qingdao will have a marvelous legacy here with this venue after the Olympic Games," said Tillett.

　　"We are satisfied with the regatta. All the world's top sailors are here, and it is so important to learn from our rivals and study the venue conditions here, and this event is a must for us to prepare for the coming Olympics," said Alain Champy, Team Official of France, "The organization of the event was similar to a real Olympic Regatta, with a sound security system and excellent venue construction."

　　Science and technology driving the economy

　　By Ju Chuanjiang(China Daily)　　

　　QINGDAO: The high-tech industry is growing rapidly in Qingdao and is a driving force behind the booming economy.

　　This year, production value of the high-tech industry soared to 220 billion yuan.

　　"The innovation of science and technology is playing an essential role in developing the city's competitiveness. We will continue to pursue the development of the high-tech industry," said Xia Geng, mayor of the city.

　　According to the Qingdao Science and Technology Bureau, in 2005 the production value of the high-tech industry reached 185.73 billion yuan, a 27.2 per cent increase on the previous year, and it accounts for 43 per cent of the gross value of industrial product. In the past five years, the high-tech industry has grown 2.6 fold.

　　Currently, the high-tech industry mainly focuses on home appliances and electronics, petroleum and chemical engineering, mechanism production, new materials and oceanic biology.

　　To better serve the developing industry, a combined system for the innovation of science and technology has been set up.

　　The funds injected into high-tech development have reached 320 million yuan annually. Mid-sized companies have spent a total of 7.64 billion on high-tech expenditure, while 573 new and high-tech companies' investment in science and technology related projects totals 5.7 billion, 5.6 per cent of the gross value of industrial product.

　　There are 128 research and development institutes above the municipal level, while Haier and Hisense have been designated by the Ministry of Science and Technology as the research and development centres of the national innovation system.

　　In 2005, Hisense registered a breakthrough for Chinese companies when it developed its own digital video media processor technology.

　　Qingdao has chosen the area along the west coast as the centralized platform for high-tech companies.

　　The IT industry, precision machinery, new type material and refined chemicals are being encouraged to settle in the area. Projects linked to special type steel processing, new-type alloy materials, nanometer materials and macromolecule composite materials have been launched.

　　Among them, 91 projects have won various awards in the field, including 6 National Science and Technology Improvement Awards, and 40 Provincial Science and Technology Improvement Awards.

　　As a coastal city, Qingdao is also well-known for its advanced level of oceanic science and technology expertise. About two-thirds of researchers in this special field in China study in Qingdao, while one-third of development institutes in the field are set up in the city.

　　The city now boasts more than 7000 people specializing in oceanic science and technology.

　　These capable people are helping to develop the ocean-related industry, making Qingdao one of the most important bases for aquatic breeding, oceanic medication and biological technology.

　　"We will speed up efforts to set up a number of scientific research institutes in universities and colleges. We are also trying to establish 6-8 national key laboratories and 50 provincial key laboratories," Xia said.

　　"We will also ensure our companies are able to compete with their international counterparts."

　　Britain big winners in Regatta finale

　　By Jiao Jiao(China Daily)　

　　QINGDAO: Britain won four of the eleven gold medals as well as scoring two silver and two bronze medals to dominate the 2006 Qingdao International Sailing Regatta this week.

　　French sailors followed with two gold medals and three silvers, while the USA eventually secured two golds and one in bronze.

　　Chinese competitors also scored one gold, two silvers and two bronze medals, giving locals some joy at the major regatta, which ended on Wednesday.

　　Chris Draper and Simon Hiscocks gave Britain a perfect start with a dominant performance en route to win the gold medal in 49ers class. Next in Men's RS:X event, China's 17-year-old Fang Zhennan led a Chinese one-two finish with his team-mate He Feng. Hong Kong's Chan King Yin surged into the third position.

　　For a competitor with limited experience of international competition, Fang played it cool.

　　"The result is OK, and I guess the light wind blessed me a lot. I will keep up and sharp my edges at sailing in both light and strong wind situation," Fang told the China Daily. "Hopefully I will have better performance at the 2008 Olympics."

　　The Chinese camp remained calm about the good result. "The young Chinese team played hard. But I don't think the results can represent their real levels, especially regarding to tactics," Yao Xinpei, secretary general of China Yachting Association, said.

　　"For this test event there is still absence of some world top-ranking sailors. Even for many showing up, they came mainly for venue, facility and competition rules study, and they partly reserved their power. For Chinese sailors, they have a long way to go for the best show during the 2008 Olympics."

　　In the opening race, Britain's Ben Ainslie added a final flourish to a remarkable comeback performance in the Finn, winning his first Medal Race in typically emphatic fashion. Emilios Papathanasiou came in fifth to secure the silver medal, whilst World Champion Danish Jonas Hoegh-christensen was third in overall standings.

　　In the Women's RS:X, Athens gold medallist Faustine Merret of France marched to overall victory with a start to finish win, with China's Sun Limei second, and Athens silver medallist Yin Jian scoring the bronze medal position overall.

　　Merret used the course as an Olympic warm-up. "My main purpose here was for venue acquaintance as well as observing and learning from other competitors. It is good to sail in Qingdao," said Merret, "The Chinese sailors are really good, and we have pushed each other to win, and we had a fierce quality competition and a good time."

　　Yin was contented with her effort. "It looks fine to win in the third place, but I could have done it better," Yin said.

　　Olivier Backes and Paul Ambroise Sevestre of France won the top honours in the Tornado, and their team mates, world No 2 crew Xavier Revil and Christophe Espagnon completed second place overall.

　　Mandy Mulder, Brechtje Van Derwerf and Janneke Hin of Netherlands wrapped up their event and completed a convincing overall win in Yngling.

　　Chinese team of Song Xiaoqun, Li Xiaoli and Zhang Chuanshuang have placed in the top three throughout the regatta and took the bronze medal for the final. The outstanding trio only started sailing the Yngling five months ago, and the Qingdao International Regatta is only their second appearance at an international event, after the other in France earlier this year.

　　Olympic bronze medallists Swedish Therese Togersson and Vendela Zachrisson knocked France's Ingrid Petitjean and Nadege Douroux off the top of the Women's 470 leader board and took the gold medal. German's Stephanie Rothweiler and Vivien Kussatz took bronze.

　　Athens silver medallists Nick Rogers and Joe Glanfield of Britain took overall victory in 470 Men. Korea's Asian Sailing Champions and multiple Olympians Daeyoung Kim and Sungahn Jung got silver medal. Another British pair Nic Asher and Elliot Willis made the bronze medal.

　　Goodison was delighted with the victory and saw it as an important step towards success in Qingdao in two years' time.

　　"I think it is really great to win in a venue that you are going to be sailing in. Just psychologically that you know you can beat all the other guys in these waters. It is a really good sign," he said.

　　In the Laser Radial, the USA's Paige Railey has secured herself the gold medal after setting up a 23-point lead over second-placed overall Jo Aleh of New Zealand after Monday's race.