Olympic champ turns out to be reluctant celebrity
(China Daily)
Updated: 2005-10-21 05:59

Besides being in the limelight off the track, Liu is always the focus in the stadium.

The first wave of enthusiasm for Liu happened at the opening ceremony last Wednesday evening, where Liu appeared as the flag bearer of the Shanghai delegation. His appearance at the stadium aroused countless camera flashes and thunderous applause from the spectators.

"I saw Liu Xiang at the opening ceremony," shouted Qiu Jin, a volunteer at the opening ceremony. She called her parents immediately after seeing Liu.

His two rounds of races drew the most spectators to the stadium as well.

According to the ticket office of the Games' organizing committee, more than 40,000 tickets for Liu's races on Wednesday and Thursday have been sold out and more ticket selling offices were set up throughout the city for these two days' competitions.

It's no exaggeration that it is Liu who brought more spectators to China's track and field, a sport which still lags behind the world's powerhouses.

Sport officials have another concern.

"We feel glad that more people pay attention to China's track and field, but we also feel pity that they only come for Liu Xiang," said Feng Shuyong, vice director of China Track and Field Administrative Centre.

"We hope more people could turn their interests to other potential athletes in China, and we hope one day, the spectators come for the overall track and field sport of China, but not only the star."