HUAIROU, China – From co-opting schoolchildren to simulate screaming fans to pushing athletes in front of pesky journalists after bouts, training for China's Olympic team took virtual reality to a new level on Thursday.

In a re-fitted gymnasium on the outskirts of Beijing, a 'simulated Olympic competition' was staged, exposing its athletes to the mental pressure of fans, media and dubious decision-making by match referees.

'The purpose of this match simulation is to let our athletes experience every aspect of an Olympic competitive environment,' Zhao Lei of the China Taekwondo Association (CTA) told Reuters.

'In modern warfare theory, battlefield conditions will be simulated in a laboratory setting so the soldiers can adjust beforehand.

'Whether it be sport or war theory, this kind of training is beneficial because it is closest to the real thing,' he added, while standing in front of a grandstand packed with schoolchildren clad in taekwondo uniforms.

Over the course of more than a year's planning for the mock Games, coaches have demanded trainers and sparring partners study the fighting techniques of the team's major opponents and unleash them on China's medal hopes during competition bouts.

As double Olympic heavyweight champion Chen Zhong strode onto the regulation-size mat under the gaze of a panel of match officials, a loudspeaker announced her 'French' opponent in both English and Chinese.

Her opponent, actually a long-time sparring partner on the Chinese team, was transformed for match purposes into Myriam Baverel, the French opponent who Chen beat at Athens in 2004, in defence of her first title snatched at the 2000 Sydney Games.

METICULOUS PLANNING

'Compared to Athens, the whole training atmosphere is a lot more detailed this time round,' Chen said, her brow sweaty after one of several matches against 'international' opponents.

Putting preparations for a four-yearly sporting event on a war footing is natural for China's taekwondo federation, which has combined meticulous planning with state resources to build a team to rival South Korea, where the sport originated.

After winning three golds in the two Games since taekwondo became an Olympic sport, China is tipped to reap another golden harvest at the Beijing tournament from Aug. 20-23.

Chen, despite knee soreness from an old injury, is rated a genuine title threat, along with team mate and women's finweight (47kg) world champion Wu Jingyu.

The men's contingent, comprising of Liu Xiaobo and Zhu Guo, has also improved to become medal contenders.

Where some other Chinese sporting federations had treated Olympic training as virtually a state secret, the taekwondo team's exposure served to harden the team's mental resolve, Zhao said.

'Why would we do this? With all the journalists here, it gives the athletes a special pressure,' said Zhao, adding that match referees would sometimes miss a point-scoring kick to deliberately test the athletes' patience.

Zhao, however, was eager not to place the burden of expectations on the team, which picked up two golds at Athens through Chen and women's welterweight champion Luo Wei.

'Of course, we would like more golds... but we won't set a number. But believe me when I say that we will give everyone a happy surprise,' Zhao said.

(Editing by Nick Mulvenney and John O'Brien)

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