Gold medalist Zhou Yang 周洋

“It is okay to thank your parents (after winning the gold medal), but you must thank your country first and foremost. Don't just mention gratitude for parents and then leave it at that,” deputy director Yu Zaiqing (于再清) with the State General Administration of Sports in China criticized Zhou Yang for neglecting to mention her country in her reflections after winning the gold medal at the Winter Olympics.

In the panel discussions during a session of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing yesterday, Yu Zaiqing, deputy director of the State General Administration of Sports and a vice chairman of the International Olympic Committee, spoke about athletes mentioning parents in their reflections after winning the gold medal. “The kid obviously didn't express all that she needed to express in her reflections,” Yu said, “it is right to thank your parents (after winning gold), but you've got to thank the country first and foremost. You must make mention of your country and not just stop at thanking parents.” Yu also remarked that there is a need to educate athletes about “better sports ethics”.

After Zhou Yang won gold in the Winter Olympics, she had been quoted as saying: “To improve lives of my parents.” Her candid comments had moved many that had heard her over the national TV broadcast.

Background Information:

Recently during women's 1,500 meter short-track speed skating at the Winter Olympics, Zhou Yang was the only Chinese athlete to have made it into the finals and subsequently succeeded in not only claiming gold but also in breaking an Olympic record for the event. After winning gold, reporters had sought Zhou out and asked her to reflect about “What does winning gold at the Olympics mean for you?”; Zhou Yang had replied, “The gold medal will bring a lot of changes to my life. I will be more confident and it will improve the lives of my parents.”

Source: gcpnews.com

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