French Olympic swimming team are undergoing training in Dalian, a port city in northeast China, after their arrival on Tuesday, in their dash to the Beijing Games.

As one of the three bases for the preparatory training of Olympic swimmers designated by the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee, Liaoning swimming gym has just been renovated to accommodate the French swimmers.

The French team comprises 51 members, including Alain Bernard who has just broken the 100 meters and 50 meters freestyle world record at the European Swimming Championship in March, according to Liu Weixing, director of Liaoning Provincial Swimming Managing Center. Liu also takes charge of the training of the French Olympic swimming team in Dalian.

"We have checked and renovated the gym thoroughly. Some new ventilation, lighting and training facilities have been installed and the city's water supply and sanitation departments come to check the water quality once a day, more frequently than before," said Liu.

"The gym has halted commercial operation during the French swimmers' stay to give them an undisturbed training environment," she added.

Sources said the French swimmers will train 5 hours a day in the gym until August 4 when they are scheduled to leave Dalian for Beijing.

(Xinhua News Agency July 30, 2008)