Issue No. 5, April 30, 2008  - 100 days countdown to the Olympics

100 days to go before the Beijing Olympics! The Beijing Olympics is in my mind every day. Even if someone wakes me up in the mid-night, I am able to tell him immediately the time of the Games is August 8 to 24.

People around the world, including Germany and other European countries, keep their attention to the Beijing Olympics. The media have been covering the Olympics since the day when the torch relay was inaugurated. I am everyday expecting the opening of the Games with a mixed feeling of stress and delight. I believe we will experience successful games.

My physical fitness has improved a lot recently and I am now able to take intensive training. Meanwhile, I also keep an eye on the Chinese players’ performance. Although I actually have little idea about their preparations and forms, I still think they are top-flight players even though they are not in the best form. On the other hand, the Chinese players don’t know much about my recent form either.

My goal at the Olympics is still winning medals. Therefore I am in the hard training every day to present good performance in the men’s’ single competition. The German men’s team is also competitive and capable of beating all others, probably except China. So I think that my hope of medals lies in both men’s single and team competition.

After I finish my games at the Olympics, I will also go to watch some other matches. First of all I am a football fan and in Athens I also watched German handball team’s match. It all depends what to watch at that time. I also expect to make some new friends in the Olympics Village. If I really could win one medal, I will be celebrating it for three days! Cheer for me, I believe I can make it!

(First issued: Titan Sports, April 30, 2008)

METRO Cash & Carry co-sponsors Timo Boll, Christian Süß, the German national team as well as the table tennis club Borussia Düsseldorf.  The table tennis sponsorship of METRO Cash & Carry primarliy targets China market with a view to boosting the MCC brand in the country.

Timo Boll, who ranked world No.1 in 2003 and played one season in the Chinese table tennis league in 2006, has become very popular worldwide and especially in China. Currently he is No.5 in the latest ITTF ranking. Table tennis is one of the five most popular sports in the world and number one in China.