Excited with the gains in the Turin Olympics, Chinese officials said Monday that the country would spend more money to develop winter sports.

"Our achievements in the Turin Games are a big encouragement. We will strengthen the disciplines we are traditionally strong at and try to make breakthroughs in the weak ones," Xiao Tian, deputy chef-de-mission, said at a press conference.

China won two golds, four silvers and five bronzes in Turin, achieving its best ever results in the Winter Games.

While declining to disclose the government's budget in winter sports, Xiao said he believed more money will come from the private sector.

Xiao noted company sponsorship and sports lottery had been important financial sources for China's winter sports. "Our athletes' performance in Turin will help us forge partnership with more international and domestic companies," he said.

But the sports official also hinted that the dominant position of summer sports in China will not be changed.

"China is still a developing country, which means our ability to develop winter sports is still limited."

Despite improved performance in the Games, Cui Dalin, another chef-de-mission, said China still lagged behind many countries, especially in the classical winter sports including Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, and middle-long distance speeding skating.

"We are only competitive in the limited number of events," he said. China's two gold medals were obtained in women's 500m short-track speedskating and men's freestyle aerials.

"China isn't a heavyweight in winter sports, which was a result of China's social and economic development as well as that of weather and geographical conditions," he said.

"The Turin Olympics made us further realize that to develop winter sports is a long-time and arduous task," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency February 27, 2006)