Ｑｉｎｇｄａｏ　ｔｏ　Ｈｏｓｔ　Ｏｌｙｍｐｉｃ　Ｓａｉｌｉｎｇ　Ｅｖｅｎｔｓ.docVIP

Ｑｉｎｇｄａｏ　ｔｏ　Ｈｏｓｔ　Ｏｌｙｍｐｉｃ　Ｓａｉｌｉｎｇ　Ｅｖｅｎｔｓ 　　 　　THE coastal city of Qingdao, in Shandong Province, is known for both its sublime beaches and industrial prominence. Several Chinese companies, such as Haier and Hisense (both electric home appliance manufacturers), as well as the world-famous Tsingtao Beer brewery, are leaders in their respective fields at home and abroad. Now, the city is earning a reputation in an altogether different realm ?C sports ?C as it prepares to host the sailing events during the 2008 Olympic Games. Once the Games are over, the new marina will elevate the city into a marine sports hub expected to attract millions of sailing afficionados and tourists from around the world. 　　 　　Why Qingdao? 　　 　　There is a long story behind Qing-dao’s selection as the venue for the Olympic sailing contests. It originated with 67-year-old Chinese sailing champion Wang Zhimin, who became part of the first generation of sailing competitors in China after being recruited onto a provincial team in 1959. As she grew older, she adopted as her mission the public promotion of sailing, and discovering and nurturing young sailors. In 1986, she and her husband founded Zou’s Sailing Club, the first private yacht club of its kind in China, and since then she has devoted herself to building FRP yachts of the OP and Laser classes. When the Beijing Asian Games opened in 1990, the club provided sailing ships for its yachting events. 　　In 1991, the club successfully applied to the Asian Yacht Racing Union to host the Second Asian OP Class Sailing Championships. The event was the first major international sailing competition to be held in Qingdao, and the first in China to be organized by an individual. Wang’s club saw the entire process through from start to finish ?C from application to preparation and organization ?C without a cent from the government, and her seven-member family miraculously delivered a total of 45 OP class yachts. 　　 　　Inspired by the success of the ev