Lifeguards in combat form

Inside the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park, venue for the "Good Luck Beijing" Canoe/Kayak Slalom Open scheduled to open tomorrow, a group of lifeguards in bright outfits caught the attention of many people around. They are the lifeguards for the tournament, who will stay alert on the banks to meet the emergency.

The Beijing Canoe/Kayak Slalom Open are staffed by more than 30 lifeguards, who will help save people from a racing course in a way different from that used in a swimming pool. With a rope around his waist, the lifeguard will catch the drowning man and hold him firmly, while his partner on the bank will pull them back to the quiet water and then get them out of the water as soon as possible. If a lifeguard fails to get hold of the drowning man, the other one on the bank will throw a rope to the man for him to catch it by himself. The lifeguards will work in pairs, with more people assisting them on the other bank of the course.

As one of the lifeguards said, they have practised whatever skills they can think of and should be capable not only of swimming through waves but also going against the stream. The most difficult moment for them will be that a rope keeps floating on waves when it is broken or too long. Dredging up paddles or boats is not easy either. "We were asked to dredge up a boat full of water weighing some 300kg yesterday," he added, "it was really a strenuous task, you know."

To be more active in the course of lifesaving, the lifeguards have also learned to observe the ability of the canoeist or kayakist in swimming.

This afternoon, the gates for the course for tomorrow's preliminary round were installed, and experts sent by the International Canoe Federation had a trial race throughout the whole course. During this time, the lifeguards standing along the banks kept reminding the onlookers not to step on the ropes in case they should use them on a life-saving mission.

According to the organizing committee, these liftguards will also work for the Canoe/Kayak Flatwater Open scheduled to open at the same venue on August 23, 2007.