BEIJING, Oct 31, 2007 (AFP) - China's world and Olympic champion Liu Xiang has set a new record, insuring his body for 13 million dollars, the Beijing Times reported Wednesday.

The Shanghai 24-year-old signed the deal earlier this week offering 100 million yuan (13 million dollars) personal accident and injury insurance for himself and one million yuan coverage for each for the 100 other athletes in China's track and field team, the paper said.

The newspaper said Liu's policy was a record for a Chinese athlete.

Insurer Ping An refused to take cash from China's most bankable athlete who set a world record for the 110m hurdles last year and won the world title this year.

Instead they requested that 2004 Olympic gold medallist who is one of China's top hopes for gold at the 2008 Beijing games, act as "ambassador" for the firm.

Liu's coach Sun Haiping said earlier this year said that Chinese athletes at Liu's level were under-insured, covered only by a collective team policy provided by the state.

"Now I have no worries," the athlete was quoted as saying "And I can prepare for the Beijing Olympic Games next year with all my efforts."