Sports Scene Overview

Sports Scene is a daily 15-minute sports news program on CCTV International. The program brings a roundup of major sports stories taking place in China and around the world with a focus on domestic sporting events.

Every Sunday, there is a 30-minute special edition of Sports Scene (on Sundays, the program broadcast time begins 15 minutes earlier than weekday broadcasts).

In addition to the latest sporting news, the weekend edition of Sports Scene includes a recap of the past weeks main stories and a profile of one of Chinas Olympic champions. With the Olympic Games coming to Beijing, China in 2008, Sports Scene will be playing an even more important role in keeping the world abreast of Olympic Games related developments in Beijing and Chinas contributions to the world of sports.

IOC hails sports facilities of Madrid

MADRID, May 7 (Xinhua) -- The evaluation commission from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) hailed on Thursday the work done in the sports facilities of Madrid, when beginning on Thursday the fourth date of its work visit in Madrid.

Madrid's government said on Thursday that Madrid offers economic solvency, politic unit, fiscal advantage and support from the 86 percent of the inhabitants to host the Olympic Games of 2016.

President from the Autonomous government of Madrid, Esperanza Aguirre assured the financing of the Games with 1.117 billion euro(1.485 billion U.S. dollars) and she hailed the economic and population growth in the region.

IOC former president Juan Antonio Samaranch, current member of the sport organizations, said on Thursday that Madrid can host the Olympic Games 2016 "with and without crisis because most of the investments are already done".

On Thursday it was proposed that all the profits the IOC will get in Spain for hosting in Madrid the Games 2016 will be free of taxes for the Treasury Minister.

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Triple Olympic champion gymnast Yang retires

BEIJING, May 7 (Xinhua) -- Three-time Olympic champion of gymnastics Yang Wei, double Olympic gold medallist in the Beijing Games, confirmed his retirement on Thursday.

The 29-year-old spearheaded China to the men's team title and collected all-around individual to cap his prolific career. Yang was also a member in China's win of men's team in the Sydney Olympics. Before culminating in Beijing, Yang also won seven world titles and two Olympic silvers in an international career spanning13 years.

According to Yang, the injury forced him to retire and gave up hope of taking part in China's 11th National Games in October.

"I just can not handle it now although my mind is still there to compete on at least for the national games," said Yang, who pondered to quit at the aftermath of Athens Olympic debacle.

"I think it's the time to retire and it would have been more reasonable to retire at the peak of my career after the Olympics. I'm happy I can stick to my training until now and finished top on the Beijing Olympics podium.

"I just wanted to end my career following flop in Athens out of concern of injury and my form, but my coach Huang Yubin persuaded me to hang on. I'm so eager to be part of the Beijing Olympic squad, so I said no to the thought of leaving finally," said Yang.

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Diving queen Guo Jingjing to spring into action

BEIJING, May 6 -- China's diving queen Guo Jingjing will return to the pool next week for the fifth stop of the 2009 Diving Grand Prix in Fort Lauderdale, the US.

China'sGuoJingjing(top)andWuMinxia
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synchronisedspringboardfinalatthe
GoodLuckBeijingFINADivingWorldCup
beingheldattheNationalAquaticsCentre
inBeijingFebruary24,2008.
(Xinhua/ReutersPhoto)

After the Beijing Olympic Games last August, when Guo claimed her third and fourth Olympic gold medals, the diving super star enjoyed six months off, shooting advertisements and attending various social activities.

She only returned to training with the national team after the Spring Festival in February.

The US Grand Prix, from May 7-10, will be her first competition and only competition before the National Games qualifications from May 16-22.

The Chinese Swimming Administrative Center considered withdrawing from the US event, because of concerns over the spread of H1N1 flu, but allowed the team to leave Beijing for the US last Sunday.

Guo's teammates include her synchro partner Wu Minxia, Olympic women's 10m platform gold medalists Chen Ruolin and Olympic men's 10m platform silver medalist Zhou Luxin.

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