Yu Laoliu | Spent nearly 100 million on two people, why are they still afraid of taxpayers knowing?

Everyone will be surprised by the figures in the Caixin report, even feeling incredible. Why hasn’t such a heavy news item attracted the world’s attention? The reason is simple: the report has disappeared. Many articles are also gone. Therefore, “pseudonyms” will be used next.

Since the author has only seen screenshots, it is impossible to determine how much “they” spent on Gu and Zhu respectively. However, it is still possible to sort things out roughly.

Look at the title of the report: Gu’s training expenses are included in the financial budget, exceeding 47 million. It is easy to misunderstand that Gu spends so much in a year. In fact, it is not. This is for the two years of 2023 and 2034, which means an average of 23.5 million per year.

So, how much did “they” spend on Gu in 2025? In the budget table, the number is 48.14819636 million. Of course, this is not just for Gu, but also includes Zhu.

Zhu’s expenses for the past two years were 1.45 million, which is not even in the same league as Gu. Therefore, the bulk of the 48 million is still spent on Gu. So, after three years, “they” spent tens of millions on Gu – if there is this expenditure in next year’s budget, the total amount is estimated to exceed 100 million.

What makes people feel “funny” is that the amount of 48.14819636 million has been accurate to the cent. Is “they” trying to tell the audit department: every expense can be traced, and it is scientific and reasonable?

If so, why hide it?

Caixin’s report just said that it’s gone. This is not surprising. What’s strange is that “they” can even modify the already published budget content. The “performance objectives” column in the screenshot clearly wrote the names of Gu and Zhu. Looking at the “performance objectives” at this moment, the names of Gu and Zhu have disappeared, and it has become “for the training guarantee of outstanding athletes in our city”.

The original intention of the budget is to make people understand that every expenditure must be clear, including what it is spent on and who it is spent on. “They” went from “clear” to “vague”, completely violating the purpose of the budget, so can it pass the audit?

Of course it can. Because, outsiders watch the excitement, insiders watch the doorway. In fact, on the right side of the “performance objectives”, there is also content (see the picture below): the number of training participants, 2; the average training cost per person, 24.07409818.

Therefore, only ordinary people will really misunderstand that more than 48 million is spent on “outstanding athletes in our city” (group), and those who are involved know that it is spent on Gu and Zhu.

The reason for going to such great lengths and not wanting to say it clearly is because they are afraid that ordinary people will know. To be precise, this ordinary person is called a taxpayer. In other words, “they” are using taxpayers’ money to pay for Gu and Zhu’s training fees.

Just ask: In three years, 96.66 million was spent on two people. Which taxpayer will be happy and agree? If Caixin’s report continues to exist, what kind of effect will it cause is conceivable. Similarly, if the author’s article can continue to exist, then it would be strange, so please forward it quickly and let more people know.

Regarding this matter, I want to ask “them” a question: According to past “experience”, for athletes trained by the public, you can take a commission from the advertising endorsement fees they receive later. Gu’s annual advertising endorsement fees are estimated to exceed 200 million in the industry. So, how much can you take from it?

If it can cover the investment in Gu and have a surplus, let alone 20 million a year, even 50 million, taxpayers will gladly agree. However, according to the thinking of a normal person: If you are Gu, will you agree? Definitely not. Because you can be the “boss” yourself, why should you “work” for others and share your profits?

This question, “they” should really answer well. If not a penny can be recovered, and 96.66 million was spent on Gu and Zhu in three years, then we have to discuss a more important question: Is it still necessary to use the national system to train athletes?

Each era has its own characteristics. The national system originally had its rationality. Seeing athletes winning gold and silver on the Olympic stage, everyone is honored – because there were not many things to be proud of at that time, it needed to凝聚人心 (gather people’s hearts) and need national pride.

Nowadays, China is the second largest economy in the world and is already a super power. This sense of pride does not need a small gold medal to carry it at all. Moreover, people’s understanding of the Olympic Games has undergone a fundamental change: the gold medals of some people cannot represent the physical fitness of the whole people. Look at the cold reception of the Paris Olympics, you will know.

Too much money is spent on athletes under the national system. Gu and Zhu spent nearly 100 million in three years. If all athletes are included, it will be an astronomical figure. What can it bring? Vanity that has no significance to the national economy and people’s livelihood – moreover, everyone cares less and less about this vanity.

If so, why not let athletes fly solo? Moreover, this is an international practice. People like Gu can naturally train themselves. Those who cannot reach this level can also seek their own lives early, without having to repeat the tragedy of Wu Liufang.

If the money spent on these athletes is used to build stadiums and give more ordinary people the opportunity to exercise. This is the true Olympic spirit.