State Councilor Shen Yiqin Inspects Preparations for 20th Asian Games

State Councilor Shen Yiqin inspected national team training facilities in Beijing on August 19, reviewing preparations for the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya. Touring gymnastics and swimming venues at the General Administration of Sport's Training Bureau, Shen urged athletes and coaches to maximize training quality, maintain psychological composure, and secure both competitive success and ethical standards. She stressed aligning Asian Games preparation with the broader cycle for the Los Angeles Olympics while enforcing strict zero-tolerance policies on doping.

High-level leadership inspections during the final preparation phases signal Beijing's broader strategic priorities for competitive sports. The focus extends beyond regional medal counts to encompass strict anti-doping compliance, team management, and athlete development for future global competitions such as the Olympic Games.

State Councilor Shen Yiqin conducted an inspection on August 19 of national sports teams preparing for the 20th Asian Games, visiting training facilities under the General Administration of Sport in Beijing to review pre-competition readiness and logistics. According to reports published by Xinhua and People's Daily, Shen visited the gymnastics and swimming training venues at the General Administration of Sport's Training Bureau. During the visit, she met with athletes, coaches, and support personnel, inquiring about training schedules, physical conditioning, and logistical backing. Shen urged the training squads to adhere to scientific training methods, maintain balanced mindsets, and aim for peak competitive form. She framed the upcoming competition in Nagoya as a dual objective, calling on teams to achieve strong sporting results alongside high standards of sportsmanship and ethical conduct. Looking beyond the regional competition, Shen emphasized that preparations for the Asian Games should directly contribute to the broader cycle for the upcoming Los Angeles Olympic Games. She instructed sports authorities to conduct targeted training during the final preparation phase to enhance overall competitive capability and test new talent. Management standards and anti-doping integrity formed a core part of the directives. Shen called for reinforced support systems alongside strict squad oversight, instructing officials to ensure that athletes and coaches can prepare without external distractions. She reiterated a firm 'zero occurrence' and 'zero tolerance' approach to doping violations, stating that competitors must strive for medals characterized by integrity, style, and cleanliness. Shen also called on officials and coaching staff to maintain bottom-line risk awareness, proactively resolving potential issues to ensure safe and orderly participation throughout the preparation and competition periods.