China's Olympic stars won't fade away
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-09-02 10:04

China's Olympic heroes, who made the country so proud during the Athens Games, richly deserved the cash bonus the government gave them for their efforts.

Now, many of those athletes are showing just what heroes they really are, by putting their bonus back into the community.

Take 19-year-old, Zhu Qinan, who won a gold medal in the men's 10m air rifle. He is planning to spend part of the bonus helping victims in his disaster-affected hometown in Zhejiang Province.

China's strongest women, Tang Gonghong, who won the country's 18th gold medal in the over 75kg weightlifting class, wants to use her money to build a house for her aging parents in a rural area because they don't want to live in the city.

While Beijing-based Zhang Yining, who won two gold medals of the table tennis, says she just wants to give her gold medals to her coach.

In addition, many local enterprises are eager to invite the Olympic heroes to endorse their sports equipment and sporting goods.

A Shandong hotel plans to build bronze statues of four Shandong-based gold medal winners, Du Li, Liu Chunhong,Tang Gonghong and Xing Huina.

One thing is certain; China won't forget its gold medal heroes as it prepares to host the Olympics in Beijing in 2008.

Close

Today's Top News     Top Sports News
Hu, Arroyo agree to deepen ties         Shadow falls on celebs in dubious ads         Environmental damage to be counted in GDP         Nuclear power to push national growth         Arsonist kills himself after setting bus on fire         China to deepen financial reform: vice premier	Prosecutor to drop rape charge against Kobe Bryant       Korzhanenko still refuses to return gold       Safin makes early exit at U.S. Open       Wayne Rooney joins Manchester United       Voeller takes reins at Roma       China athletes return to heroes' welcome