Fifty-eight foreign referees hired at Chinese National Games

JINAN, East China, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Organizers will hire 58 foreign referees in 12 sports to ensure fair play and help athletes adjust to world standard at the upcoming Chinese National Games.

The organizers also suggest the Chinese referees take the chance to learn from their foreign colleagues as the 58 referees have rich experience in judging the world level tournaments including world championships and world cups.

In taekwondo and sailing, the events which were held and concluded prior to the Games's official opening on Oct. 16, foreign referees have been applied to boost the judging level.

And it's not news at the quadrennial national meet as a total of 35 foreign recruits were hired to help judge in eight sports at last edition held in Nanjing four years ago.

The Games, slated for Oct. 16-28, will feature 33 sports and a total of 3,564 referees will be applied.