CHINA: OLYMPICS BEIJING 2008: 11th day of Beijing games, a day after China's Liu Xiang shocks nation with his sudden departure from the games due to an injury

Record ID: 872946

  • Title: CHINA: OLYMPICS BEIJING 2008: 11th day of Beijing games, a day after China's Liu Xiang shocks nation with his sudden departure from the games due to an injury
  • Date: 19th August 2008
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) LEONARDO LEE, A RESIDENT OF BEIJING, SAYING: "It was not something that millions of Chinese spectators thought would happen. We didn't expect that, it had been the most anticipated event of the Games. We all hoped he could have defended his title." MORE OF PEOPLE ARRIVING AT BIRD'S NEST, WOMAN WAVING FLAGS VIEW OF BIRD'S NEST STADIUM
  • Embargoed: 3rd September 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • City:
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAALERNKJZBX0UC65PAAGBKD7VS
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Spectators in their thousands descended on Beijing's Bird's Nest stadium on Tuesday (August 19) as the 11th day of the Olympic games got under way in the Chinese capital.
    "It's just been really good. I came to China on holiday and I go back tomorrow so it's a really good way to end the trip, to come and see the games. And the atmosphere is also very good, everyone is just talking to everyone else and cheering on their teams," said Rebecca, a tourist from England.
    Beijing was bright on Tuesday with fine blue skies and warm temperatures. The city's forecasters have also said pollution levels will be low.
    "I had childhood asthma and it hasn't affected me at all since I've been here. The levels seem to be under control, the traffic is free flowing," said Charlie, a spectator from England.
    The Beijing Meteorological Bureau said air quality was likely to remain as Grade 2, or "fairly good", levels, with a light breeze helping to disperse smog.
    In spite of the sunshine, the mood of many Chinese spectators was less bright due to the abrupt departure of Liu Xiang, China's champion hurdler.
    "It was not something that millions of Chinese spectators thought would happen. We didn't expect that, it had been the most anticipated event of the Games. We all hoped he could have defended his title," said one Chinese spectator, Leonardo Lee.
    Liu was the host nation's best hope of an athletics gold medal at the Beijing Olympics and his pained withdrawal from the 110m hurdles on Monday (August 18) startled this country where his image hangs on countless billboards.
    After a false start in the heats, Liu stumbled for a few paces, hindered by the injury to his right foot, before hobbling out of the packed Bird's Nest stadium with spectators left in stunned silence.
    Liu's departure and clouded future have dominated talk and commentary in China, overshadowing the nation's leading gold medal haul.
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