China TV show to pick Olympic coxes

BEIJING, Sep 13 (Reuters) China is using a realty TV show to select coxes for the national men's and women's rowing eights at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, a spokesman for the programme's production company said today.

''The 14-episode series, to be shown on China state television from next February, will feature 20 male and female finalists selected from Chinese citizens across the globe,'' Taihe Media Investment spokesman Nathaniel Jones told Reuters.

''It's a great way to spread the values of the Olympics,'' Jones said, adding that the contestants would train with the national team.

''Rowing has always been considered an upper-tier, Ivy League sport. This will be a great way to popularise the sport in China and encourage people to become involved in rowing and in sports in general.'' Jones said applicants needed no rowing experience but were required to be between 18-60 years of age and healthy.

''Weight will only become important toward the end of the show, so contestants could have the chance to lose weight, if necessary,'' he added.

The format of the show allows viewers to vote their favourite contestants into later rounds, but the final cuts would ultimately be decided by national coaches and team members.

The coxes would need to display leadership and good team-member qualities, Jones said.

''When it comes down to it, the team's not going to do very well if they don't like the guy yelling at them at the end of the boat,'' Jones said.

Having failed to win a medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics, China announced itself as a rowing power at last month's world championships in Britain, taking three gold medals and finishing seventh overall.

REUTERS AY BST1632