Wushu likely to be a "specially-set" sport at 2008 Olympics

Wushu will probably appear during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games as a "specially-set" sport, according to a Chinese sports official on Monday.

In the news conference of the 2nd World Traditional Wushu Championships (WTWUC), Chen Guorong, vice chairman of the Chinese Wushu Association, said, "The International Wushu Federation has continuously made great efforts to introduce martial arts into the Olympics. The Organizing Committee of the 2008 Olympiad has made some fruitful progress. Martial arts matches will hopefully be held during the Beijing Olympics."

Chen stressed that since the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has been committed to keeping the size and cost of the Olympics in check,including a cap of 28 sports, 300 events and 10,500 athletes, martial arts will certainly not be included in the 28 medal sports, but probably appear as a "specially-set" match during the 2008 Olympiad instead.

Chen confirms that the entry of martial arts into the Olympics is still under detailed discussion, and the final results may be released by the end of this year.

IOC senior officials, including Hein Verbruggen, Chairman of the Coordination Commission for the Beijing Olympics, will also attend the 2nd WTWUC and watch martial arts performances.

Source: Xinhua