BEIJING, 1 September 2004 — China’s Olympic athletes, who won a record 32 gold medals in Athens, arrived in Beijing yesterday to the sort of ecstatic celebration that China hopes will be repeated many times over when it hosts the next Olympics in 2008. Dozens of dancers, drummers, a brass band and throngs of well-wishers crowded Beijing’s international airport to welcome more than 200 members of the 407-strong Chinese Olympic team.

Politburo Standing Committee member Li Changchun greeted the athletes at the airport as children wearing red scarves handed them flowers and friends and families waved flags and banners.

“I feel awesome!” men’s 110m hurdles gold medalist Liu Xiang said.

Asked if he now planned to go to the United States to train, he said: “No, I won’t. I’ll keep working with my coach here.” China’s highest gold medal tally ever secured it second place in the medals standings behind the United States.

The medal haul included surprise wins on the track, in tennis and rowing for a team which put youth and potential ahead of experience.

Beijing hosts the next Games in 2008 and Chinese sports authorities viewed Athens as ideal training for its young athletes to perform even better on home soil.

“We saw our weaknesses,” international basketball superstar Yao Ming said of the Chinese team’s disappointing seventh-place finish.

“In preparing for 2008, our 24 teammates need to learn from our valuable experiences from this Olympic Games.” Liu Jingmin, Executive Vice President of the Beijing Games Organizing Committee, said that his team could learn as much from Athens as the athletes had.

Iraq’s Olympic Run Boosts

World Cup Confidence

In Baghdad, Iraq yesterday honored its national soccer team, whose improbable run to the semifinals of the Athens Olympics has given Iraqis a rare cause for joy and raised hopes they can reach the 2006 World Cup finals.

“Now we have the World Cup mission and we have to prepare very well, despite the difficult conditions in the country,” coach Adnan Hamad told Reuters.

“I think the participation in the Olympics has given extra strength to the players and hope for the future,” he said. Iraq lost 1-0 to Italy in the bronze medal match in Athens.

Players were showered with sweets and school boys lined up to have their photos taken with their heroes at a ceremony in Baghdad.

“Oh, coach Adnan! Oh, the things you did in Athens,” warbled an Iraqi singer, while a dancer performed summersaults for the players.

“The most important thing is to make our people happy and bring smiles to their faces,” team captain Haidar Jabar said. “We wanted to win...but what we have achieved is great.

“God willing, we will get better in the future,” Jabar said. “We will show that our national team is capable and will reach the World Cup finals,” he said. Iraq’s next World Cup qualifier in the Asian zone second stage is against Taiwan in Taipei on Sept. 8.

“The Olympic squad, especially the football team, reflected the shining face of Iraq and won support and sympathies and love of most of the nations of the world through the excellent performance,” said Ahmed Abdel Ghafour Al-Samarie, president of the Iraqi Olympic Committee. “We have honored our country and all the Arabs. It has a lot of importance for the Iraqi people living in these difficult conditions,” goalkeeper Nour Sabri said.

Thai Medalists Get Parade,

Freebies and Cash

In Bangkok, Thailand’s eight Olympic medalists were honored yesterday with a parade, free room and board at one of Bangkok’s luxury hotels and a shower of awards and cash gifts.

The successful athletes returned from Athens yesterday morning to be greeted at the airport by a representative of Thai Queen Sirikit, who presented the Olympic medalists with garlands.

Thailand scored eight medals — three golds, one silver and four bronze — at this year’s Games in Greece, the best performance to date for the Asian kingdom.

The first gold was won by woman weightlifter Udomporn Polsak, the first Thai woman to win an Olympic medal. Three other female weightlifters, Pawina Thongsuk, Wandee Kameaim and Aree Wiratthaworn won a gold and two bronze medals, respectively.