Wang Bingyu
Posted: Feb 15, 8:17p ET | Updated: Feb 15, 8:30p ET
VANCOUVER (AFP) China's hopes of adding Olympic women's curling gold to their world title have been rocked by an apparent split between the team boss and coach over a controversial media blackout.
China open their campaign on Wednesday against Great Britain, but the players have been prevented from speaking to the press, a decision reportedly opposed by the team's Canadian coach Dan Rafael.
"We just want them concentrating on practice and preparation before the game, and just give them a quiet time and a quiet place," said Li Dongyan, the team leader.
In response to suggestions that Rafael opposed the ban, Li added: "The Chinese women's team have very different ages and experience to other teams here. I am more knowing of the players than the coach, he is a Canadian.
"But most of the other teams have players more an age like 30-year-olds, they have more life experience." The Chinese curling rink is a young team. "We (the team and Rafael) have a good relationship."
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Li suggested that the media blackout could continue into the tournament which is played on a round-robin basis with the final not taking place until February 26.
"We will see what happens and maybe open to the media," said Li.
Rafael refused to comment on the ban, preferring instead to discuss the conditions at the Vancouver Olympic Centre.
"The rocks are probably a little more aggressive than at the worlds, but the ice is curling just the same, so we just need to watch the rocks," he said.
"But the team is pretty good, they are loose and they are pretty focused."
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