Baby steps needed to build BMX culture

China needs to start getting children involved in BMX racing for the sport to take root in the country and pick up where China's bicycle culture leaves off.

"It's a very good sport for young kids, both girls and boys, so you need to grab their attention while they are very young," said Johan Lindstrom of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the sport's governing body.

"Let's say from six years old up, they should be able to get on the bike."

He recommended starting off with baby steps.

"If you build tracks on a good level, let's say at a lower level, it will be more fun for everybody. Once you get into the sport, after you start riding your bike, you will continue and then become very good."

China made its first serious foray into the sport in 2003 and only built proper training facilities two years ago in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province.

China has about 15 professional teams and around 100 riders, some of whom have been sent overseas for training.

"I have been very impressed with the Chinese athletes who come and train in Switzerland," said the Swede.

"It's fantastic how much progress they have made in a very short period of time. In only two or three years, they have gone from bad to good riders. I think it's remarkable."

China's national BMX team is made up of only 10 riders, each of them with little chance to qualify for the sport's Olympic debut in Beijing next year.

Qualification for the 32 men's and 16 women's slots will be fierce and China still has much catching up to do.

"For the Chinese riders, it's obviously very difficult to earn a spot in the Games," said Lindstrom. "But I think the Chinese girls stand a good chance in the Olympics because they are very strong and very fearless. That's what you need in BMX."

BMX, which mushroomed out of counter-cultural California in the late 1960s, enjoys immense popularity in America and Europe but has not yet caught on in Asia.

Scenes of young people practising their jumps in public squares serve as a rare treat in China rather than a public nuisance, but more needs to be done to promote the sport if it is ever going to take off.

"We will try to achieve a good result at the World Championships next May, which will be held in China," said Jiang Guofeng, secretary general of the Chinese Cycling Association.

"Since our women riders have finished among the top three at the 2006 Asian championships, they will have a good chance.

"And as the hosts of the 2008 Games, we may also get some wild card entries for the Olympics," he said,

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