Chinese lifters and officials get a Parisian “taste” before the Games
After its successful participation in the IWF Grand Prix II in Doha (QAT) and before its return to the country, the Chinese weightlifting team travelled to Paris (FRA) from December 14-21, 2023 to get a “taste” of the facilities provided for the upcoming Olympic Games in August.
During their stay in the French capital, the Asian delegation had the opportunity to share the facilities of the national weightlifting training center at INSEP, as part of the training sessions scheduled jointly with the French Olympic team.
This enriching experience was highlighted by the staging of a seminar where French and Chinese could debate on talent detection, training and coaching methods.
This opportunity also allowed Team China to visit the French capital, namely the Olympic Village at Saint Ouen, which in a few months will be home to all the athletes taking part in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. After a detailed presentation of the Village’s construction project and its conversion into residential accommodation after the Games, the Chinese delegation was able to take their first step into the Village and see where the future weightlifting training room will be located.
Michel Raynaud, President of the French Weightlifting and IWF Executive Board member, underlined the importance of this visit: “It was a very rewarding opportunity to share our experiences and to forge common and stronger links between the two teams. I would like to thank all the Chinese athletes and officials for their availability, and their willingness to fruitfully co-operate with us during this period leading to the Olympics.”