He also said the state will draft regulations including setting out precise codes on inviting foreign coaches to lead Chinese national teams. "If our athletes can play in the developed countries, it will be very helpful for their development as well as help improve the country's overall competitiveness, particularly in weak events such as basketball and soccer," said Li, who is attending the plenary of the National People's Congress as a Shanghai delegate.

But Li said the "outgoing athletes" have to sign a contract with their sport associations to ensure that they will return to participate in three key international tournaments - the Olympics, Asian Games and world championships for the athletes' individual sports - and contribute part of their income to the associations, clubs, go-betweens and other organizations involved.

"The contract is reasonable. Unlike Western athletes whose training are always paid by their parents, Chinese athletes are all supported by the government from the very beginning," said Li, a three-time runner-up in world table tennis tournaments and helped the national team to win the group championship four times during 1960s and 1970s.

Li also said the country will encourage athletes to play abroad in a planned manner so that the overall standard of the national teams won't be heavily affected.

"First of all, athletes should be purely patriotic. If not, they won't play to the utmost because they care too much about their personal interests," Li added.

In inviting foreign coaches, Li said the sport administration has formulated a new regulation, including about 10 codes covering areas like age, and working experience on recruitment of coaches.

(esatday.com March 12, 2003)