As I worked as a sports journalist for my first 10 years with China Daily, I have 【小题1】 (close) followed how China has grown from a minor player in the international sports arena into a global sports power.

【小题2】 it had a huge population, China was not much of a global force in sports until the1980s. However, it was very good at table tennis at that time. The first major international breakthrough for China came in 1981 【小题3】 its women’s volleyball team won the Women’s Volleyball World Cup. Understandably, sports fans went crazy. Parades celebrating the victory 【小题4】 (hold) on many university campuses 【小题5】 some students shouting slogans such as “revitalizing (振兴) China”, which has since become the goal of the nation.

【小题6】 (motivate) by the victory, China invested more of the limited resources in training athletes. The investment paid off, as China got 【小题7】 (it) first Olympic gold medal in shooting in 1984. In all, Chinese athletes won 15 gold medals in the Los Angeles Olympics,【小题8】 (set) the course to becoming a global sports power. In 【小题9】 past decade, Chinese athletes have been winning about 120 gold medals in international sports games every year.

As China invests more resources in the sports sector thanks to the fast-paced economic development and winning world titles becoming normal for Chinese athletes, the government started encouraging ordinary 【小题10】 (citizen) to play sports.

A new football competition, Man V Fat, 【小题1】 (organize) recently in England. Judging from the name, 【小题2】 is easy to guess that players can only join if they are fat. They can only win when they lose 【小题3】 (pound) after each game. So, the aim of this competition is 【小题4】 (get) fat men to do exercise always.

Jay Ali, a bank manager, found it a perfect idea. He said, “I don’t want to go to weight-loss classes 【小题5】 almost all participants are women there. And I don’t want to play football with my friends who are all 【小题6】 (thin) than me, so this gives me the perfect opportunity to exercise with guys who are the same 【小题7】 me. Here, no one judges me, so I don’t have to get 【小题8】 (embarrass).” Mr Shanahan from Staffordshire shared the same opinion, “I took part in the competition after getting fed up with (受够) the weight-loss classes which were 【小题9】 (main) filled with women.”

It seems that this football competition has offered fat men 【小题10】 amazing way to lose weight.

Runner’s World Challenge

It’s hard to imagine a more inspirational place for a marathon or half marathon than Marrakech in Morocco. With one of the fastest 【小题1】 (route) in the world, this is a race not to be missed. You can be there 【小题2】(run) and explore the city on this great Runner’s World holiday.

We’ve teamed up with Intrepid Travel, 【小题3】 leading expert in small group holidays to the world’s most fascinating destination, to bring you a unique eight-day travel plan from January 24th to 31st, during 【小题4】 you will explore the ancient sites of Morocoo and take part in the 31st edition of the thrilling International Marathon of Marrakech.

You will join expert guides and also feed 【小题5】 (you) soul and stomach on a foodie tour of the market of Marrakech 【小题6】 the open air, visit a vineyard, and spend time in the walled city of Essaouira, all in the company of other Runner’s World readers. After the race, you 【小题7】 (enjoy) a hammam (土耳其蒸气浴室) treatment and a relaxing massage (按摩) to help you regain energy. However, 【小题8】 (race) the Marrakech Marathon’s flat route, along narrow roads lined with palm trees, through lush orange and olive woods and past the 12th-centuty red-tinged city walls is 【小题9】 (real) the most attractive. You will remember this 【小题10】(impress) adventure for a lifetime and form friendships that will last just as long.