Spectators got a taste of Olympic excitement months before the Beijing Games opening ceremony with a performance by China's star hurdler Liu Xiang at the Bird's Nest May 22.
World and Olympic champion Liu Xiang jumps a hurdle during the heat of the men's 110m hurdles at the Good Luck Beijing China Athletics Open at the National Stadium, May 22, 2008. [Xinhua] |
Liu made his debut at the stadium that will host the Olympic athletics competitions at the Good Luck Beijing China Athletics Open, an Olympic test event.
The world champion and world record holder qualified for the semifinals of the men's 110m hurdles easily, finishing the race in 13.63 seconds.
Since his warm-ups at the starting line, Liu's every movement was broadcast on the big screens at the far sides of the stadium, eliciting screams from the enthusiastic crowd.
"I came here only for Liu," said Wang Yiming, a spectator in the stands. "I didn't get tickets for Liu's event at the Beijing Olympic Games. So I came here to cheer for him before the Games."
Spectators filled about two-thirds of the 90,000-seat stadium for Liu's event, but most left after his race finished even though there were still four events to go.
Olympic organizers say tickets for the 110m final on Saturday night are the hottest ones of the four-day event.
Liu's appearance also attracted more than 100 journalists to the narrow mixed zone, which seemed to surprise the athletics superstar.
He even tried to escape from the post-race interviews by taking a side route, but was stopped by the horde of reporters at the exit.
With relatively weak competition, Liu said he did not perform at his top level and relaxed a bit for the final ten meters.
Liu was satisfied with his first experience on the Olympic track and with his performance.
"The venue is very good and I put on just normal performances," Liu said. "I have experienced so many competitions and so it is easy to adapt to this venue.
But he said posting a fast time was not a priority less than two weeks after a major earthquake killed more than 50,000 of his compatriots in southwestern China.
"I have also been focusing on the quake these days," said Liu, as he issued an appeal for help for the victims.
Later, in the women's 10,000m, an all-Chinese race, Zhang Yingying claimed first place, running in 31 minutes 38.36 seconds. She was followed by Bai Xue and Chen Rong.
The last test event for the main Olympic venue has attracted more than 900 athletes from 14 countries and regions to compete in 42 events.
More than 20 athletes with disabilities will also compete in four Paralympic events, including wheelchair racing and wheelchair throwing.
The stadium hosted an international race /walk and an international marathon in April.
