Chinese Gymnasts

CHINA - JULY 1993: In the 1950s Mao Zedong decided that sporting success was important to bring international glory and prestige to China. Since then 3,000 Schools of Sport have been set up throughout the country. Today the China Sports Bureau has an annual budget of around $250 million to find and train potential sporting champions. Each year thousands of children, some as young as four, are enrolled in the schools and begin the harsh training regimes designed to turn them into Olympic winners. If they succeed in winning Olympic gold they are rewarded with a $25,000 payment from the government. Picture shows young gymnasts training with their coach in a sports school. (Photo by Tom Stoddart/Getty Images)