Liu Xiang easily won the 110m hurdles at the China Open last weekend. (Getty) (ATR) Chinese gold medal hopeful Liu Xiang gives Beijing something to cheer about.
Liu easily won the 110m hurdles event at this weekend’s China Open, the test event for athletics at the Beijing Olympics. He is considered the favorite to win the gold medal in the hurdles at the Games in August.
More than 50,000 spectators filled the new National Stadium at the peak of the four-day event.
The competition included 984 athletes from 13 different countries and regions, with the majority from China.
More than 50,000 spectators turned out at the Bird’s Nest for the athletics test event. (ATR/Yang Min) The China Open wasn’t the first test for the new stadium; that distinction went to last month’s race walking event which drew a small field of athletes and scant spectators.
This month the stadium’s middle and lower level stands were opened and press facilities were in operation.
The atmosphere of the event was both exciting and poignant for the crowd which commemorated the disastrous earthquake in Sichuan.
Whenever a competitor from Sichuan was introduced, the audience would show their encouragement through thunderous applause. Donation boxes were placed throughout the stadium to raise money for earthquake victims.
Speaking to reporters, Liu vowed to help the disaster relief. Liu Xiang tells reporters he will help raise money for earthquake relief. (ATR/Yang Min)
“If there is a need, I will continue to show my support for the disaster areas.”
He also revealed that he will auction one of his three Olympic torches in order to raise funds for the victims of the earthquake.
“I have already fulfilled my first dream in Athens,” said Liu, gold medalist in 2004, “and I hope that my second dream will begin in the Bird’s Nest.”
Written by Yang Min and Elsy Belina
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