China's sports development will continue long after the Beijing Games rather than slide into the background, table tennis legend Deng Yaping said at the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) this week.

"Hosting the Olympic Games is a great achievement in China's sports history, but it doesn't mean that when the curtains are down, sports development is over," said Deng, on the sidelines of the ongoing annual meeting of China's top political advisory body, of which she is a member.

"The Olympic Games will push Chinese sports into a new era, with first-class stadiums and skilled personnel familiar with international rules," she added.

Winner of four Olympic gold medals and 18 world titles, Deng has accumulated more titles than any other paddler.

She retired from the sport in 1997 and later entered China's renowned Tsinghua University. She then pursued a master's degree at England's Nottingham University followed by a PhD at Cambridge.

As a member of the Beijing Games' organizing committee (BOCOG) and a former official at China's State General Administration of Sports, Deng says that experienced staff are the key to sustaining the development of sport in China.

"After the Olympic Games, we need people to make good use of the Olympic venues, and since China will bid to host more sport events, we also need more human resources with rich experience of working with international sports committees," said Deng, who also serves as the deputy director of BOCOG's Olympic Village Department.

Asked whether sponsors would back off and interest in sport wane after the August 8-24 Games, she said this may happen, but added that it could be counteracted by more forward-thinking government policy.

"Seen from the perspective of previous Games, people may lose interest to some extent after the Games, so it is important that the government issue new policies to maintain their initiative in terms of sports sponsorship," she said.

"Meanwhile, the branding effect of the Olympics should teach Chinese companies the importance of sports marketing.

"If they can benefit from sponsoring this or that sport, I believe they will continue down that path."