China grooms future sports stars

January 02, 2008

The school currently coaches more than 600 students in eight sports. About half of the students pay their own way. The other half are the "professional reserves", who have all their training, academic and accommodation expenses covered to the tune of about 30,000 yuan ($4,053) a year each. Trials are held annually to bring in new athletes to replace those who fail to make the grade. Coaches from higher levels of teams also use the measures to scout out talents.