Editor’s Note:
With the Beijing Winter Olympics approaching, figure skating star Zhang Dan (Zhang) shared her excitement about the Beijing Games and career experiences with Global Times reporter Zhang Wang (GT). In the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Zhang and her partner Zhang Hao won silver for China. Since retirement, she has been continuously promoting winter sports by participating in events such as the dance-on-ice stage play Dream to Glide, and has also been promoting the skating-themed Russian film Ice 2, which recently opened in China.
Zhang Dan Photo: VCG
Close to everyone
GT: How did you become the star promoter for Ice 2? What impressed you about the movie?
Zhang: As China will hold the Winter Olympic Games, people are paying great attention to reports and films related to the topic. I am very passionate about figure skating. Although I have retired, I have been working on related promotions. The production team of Ice 2 invited me as a star promoter, and I hope more people can see the charm of the ice through this touching film.
GT: Do you think there is a connection between the strength of Russian figure skating and such films? That is to say, Russia is very strong in figure skating, so it can make excellent movies on related topics. In turn, this kind of film can drive more people to participate in figure skating, further consolidating and improving Russia’s strength in the sport.
Zhang: Both the films and the great achievements of the athletes play an important role in developing the sport in the country. With the promotion of related films, people pay more attention to the sport, creating good publicity in society. If film and television works create a story that can both spread knowledge of the sport and also be close to the lives of people, I believe that many audience members will be moved, and might even want to try the sport.
GT: We know that after retiring, you opened ice rinks and provided some management and technical guidance, and also participated in the performance of China’s first ice dance drama Dream to Glide. What pushed you to do all these projects?
Zhang: Dream to Glide is a continuation of my sports career. As a Chinese athlete, my country gives me strength and opportunities to stand on the Olympic field. After retiring, I have the responsibility of introducing this project to more people, so I took part in drama. Though I do not have any experience in performance, I still want to try. I hope the audiences can feel my passion, and get to love this sport through my performance.
Public key to sports thriving
GT: We know that China is a leader in the pairs mixed event, but how do we ensure the continuous emergence of talents, and how can we continue to maintain our leading position in the future?
Zhang: Team work is fundamental. China’s pair skating has always been prominent in the international arena simply because senior athletes and junior athletes share the same goal, which is to beat other players in the world. I hope that young athletes in the future can still carry this kind of spirit, so that no matter what difficulties we face, we can achieve something on the international stage.
GT: China has underperformed in three other events (men’s single skating, women’s single, and ice dancing) compared to our pair skating. What do you think is holding them back?
Zhang: For Chinese pair skating, we already have senior athletes like Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo to set a benchmark for the juniors to encourage them to work harder, but not for the three you mentioned earlier. I really hope that those athletes can strengthen their beliefs and follow their original intentions while catching up with those who are better (than them).
GT: In addition to Russia and the US, we may put most of our concern on our neighbor Japan, which has excellent athletes in figure skating including Yuzuru Hanyu, Yuma Kagiyama, Shoma Uno, and Rika Kihira. For you, why is this country taking the lead in figure skating across Asia?
Zhang: Popularity and attention among the public is key. Only when a certain base of athletes is reached, can outstanding ones with prospects and potential be selected from them. Japan has developed rapidly in those events thanks to its vigorous publicity, which means more young people are willing to participate in them.
Due to the influence of the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics, we have more and more people participating in winter sports. In the past, only some athletes from professional teams had the opportunity to be selected for the World Cup, but now we have dozens or even hundreds of skating clubs across the country, with many potential members hidden among these clubs. The base is still very important.
Zhang Dan (top) and Zhang Hao compete in the free program pairs figure skating during the Winter Olympics on February 15, 2010 in Vancouver, Canada. Photo: VCG
Masters among the people
GT: Do you think holding the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing is a good opportunity for expanding the mass base of winter sports?
Zhang: One of the difficulties in the popularity of snow and ice sports lies in the limitation of venues. For example, skating rinks need large enough venues for ice surfaces, and ski resorts also need large enough mountains. So popularizing these winter sports among the public requires lots of energy and effort.
In the past two years, with the approach of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, our country has done a lot of work, including the popularization of knowledge, so that more and more people know about the relevant events. For example, although skiing seems to be dangerous, people can attend the sports safely as long as good protective measures are in place. Only by letting people know more about ice and snow events, can more people enjoy winter sports.
GT: Over 346 million Chinese people have taken part in winter sports since Beijing successfully bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in 2015. What do you think is the key to our success in achieving this goal?
Zhang: I think it’s a unifying force. After our successful bid for the Winter Olympics, it seems that all Chinese people are making efforts for the Beijing Winter Olympics. People have begun to pay attention to what events will be held in the Olympics, and people from all sides are passing on knowledge of the Winter Olympics to the public in their own ways.
Some people play games like curling or Inline Hockey. We professional athletes never imagined introducing events of the Winter Olympics to the public in this way. As the saying goes, masters are among the people. I believe that after the Olympics, there will be more people joining in winter sports in China.
Zhang Dan Photo: VCG
