China to enhance governmental support for football

 BEIJING, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- China's top sports official said here on Wednesday that more favorable policies and financial support will be provided for the development of the popular ball sports, especially football, by the government.

Liu Peng, director of China's General Administration of Sports, made the remark in his annual report, at an ongoing¹ conference of the sports officials.

Liu said China's national teams of ball games, especially those of football, basketball and volleyball, failed to achieve their goals in the recent competitions and some of them had even lost their strength. He urged his colleagues to be alerted and determined², and to take actions.

Liu emphasized a lot on the development of football.

"Football is in recovery in China, with the league matches in better order, the sponsors with higher confidence and more school students engaged in the sport," he said.

"But the fact that Chinese football is lagging behind our competitors cannot be changed in a single day. We must strive for its prosperity in the long run."

Six measures of boosting football development were mentioned in Liu's report, including scientific planning, improving the youth training system, and reform of the professional league.

Xiao Tian, deputy director of the General Administration, said that a few institutional obstacles need to be removed for the development of the ball games, while the leading position of the government should be assured.

"We can't copy the exact mode of the Premium³ League or the NBA. We should explore our own path," Xiao said. "But we may also borrow some experience from Japan and South Korea."

A powerhouse of sports champions, China is short of, and longing⁴ for international titles of popular ball sports. The country's professional leagues of football and basketball are also in a boom, attracting some high-profile international elites⁵ to join.

1 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

2 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

3 premium   

n.加付款；赠品；adj.高级的；售价高的

参考例句：

• You have to pay a premium for express delivery.寄快递你得付额外费用。
• Fresh water was at a premium after the reservoir was contaminated.在水库被污染之后，清水便因稀而贵了。

4 longing   

n.（for）渴望

参考例句：

• Hearing the tune again sent waves of longing through her.再次听到那首曲子使她胸中充满了渴望。
• His heart burned with longing for revenge.他心中燃烧着急欲复仇的怒火。

5 elites   

精华( elite的名词复数 )； 精锐； 上层集团； （统称）掌权人物

参考例句：

• The elites are by their nature a factor contributing to underdevelopment. 这些上层人物天生是助长欠发达的因素。
• Elites always detest gifted and nimble outsiders. 社会名流对天赋聪明、多才多艺的局外人一向嫌恶。