NANCHANG, Jiangxi Province, Oct. 14 -- China holds various multi-sports games for professional and amateur athletes with different age groups and diverse backgrounds, scouting for the most talented ones for the Olympic Games and world championships.

Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang first caught the attention by winning the 110m hurdles at the National Games in 2001 at the age of 18 before cementing his dominance at home by becoming the champion at the National City Games in 2003 at 20.

The talented "flying man" shocked the world when he won the Olympic gold medal at the Athens Olympic Games one year later.

Most Chinese athletes' roads to the top are choreographed.

When aged under 20, they participate in the City Games, the most important junior competition in the country.

When they get older and better, they will have the opportunity to compete at the National Games, the most premier sports event in China.

NBA player Yao Ming, badminton "Super Dan" Lin Dan and table tennis ace Deng Yaping all set off their careers at the City Games.

On October 16, the 7th City Games will open in Nanchang, the capital city of Jiangxi province, featuring some 7,000 young athletes over 25 sports.

"The National Games is a mini-Olympics of China while the City Games is the foundation of Chinese sports," said Cai Jiadong, director of the Competitive Sports Department of the State General Administration of Sport

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