Swim champ eyes off next Olympic venue

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Grant Hackett makes his first visit to Beijing next week as part of his long-term objective to become the first swimmer in history to win three successive Olympic 1500 metre freestyle titles.

Hackett flies to Beijing on Sunday as part of an Australian Olympic Committee delegation.

He will be a co-signatory to a new co-operation agreement between the AOC and the Chinese Olympic Committee in the leadup to the 2008 Games.

“I feel very honoured to be asked by the Australian Olympic Council to accompany them to Beijing to co-sign the Olympic Agreement with the Chinese Olympic Committee. My total focus for the next four years will to put in the hard training to do all I can to achieve a third consecutive Gold Medal in the 1500m Freestyleâ€? Hackett said.

Hackett has enjoyed a break after his gold medal win in Athens but he is hoping to do a training swim at the National Training Centre in Beijing on Monday afternoon.

“I am sure our Chinese hosts will enjoy seeing the dual Olympic champion in action� AOC President John Coates said.

“I invited Grant to join us in Beijing because he is an outstanding ambassador for his sport and his country� Coates said. “And I get the sense he is already thinking ahead to the next Olympics�.

� He is very excited about seeing China for the first time and it will give him an opportunity to look at the landscape and the preparations for 2008�

The co-operation agreement will enable Australian athletes to train and compete in China regularly in the lead up to the 2008 Olympics.

Likewise Chinese athletes will visit Australia. In January 2005 China will have the biggest contingent at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney out of the 30 countries taking part. China is sending 173 athletes and 55 coaches and officials.

“Our sports will benefit greatly if they are familiar with the landscape, and the culture in Beijing. And they can go up there and pit themselves against the best because there is no doubt China will be an even bigger, more powerful, force on home soil in 2008� Coates said.

The co-agreement also includes a commitment to condemn doping.

The AOC delegation, including Hackett, will be visiting the National Anti-Doping Laboratory in Beijing on Tuesday. “The AOC and the Chinese Olympic Committee will work together over the next four years as part of the fight against the use of performance enhancing drugs� Coates said.

“To have the opportunity to travel to Beijing now to see the National Training Centre and Anti-Doping Laboratories is fantastic. I am very excited about visiting China and learning all I can about its culture, people, business and athletes with the hope of being a regular visitor in the coming years and hopefully have the chance to form a solid bond with the Chinese Olympic Council and offer any support I can.” Hackett said.

Hackett has also asked if he can do a walk on the Great Wall.