Athlete Zhang Yining takes oath at opening ceremony
www.chinaview.cn 2008-08-08 23:48:44   Print

    BEIJING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- China's Olympic and world champion Zhang Yining took the Athletes' Oath on behalf of all athletes taking part in the Beijing Olympic Games, at the Games' opening ceremony on Friday night.

    Holding a corner of the Olympic flag, Zhang swore that she and other athletes to the Beijing Games would commit themselves to "a sport without doping and without drugs."

    Beijing, which pledged the world a "clean Olympics," has enforced the toughest ever doping control measures, with nearly half of the athletes competing at the Games expected to be tested.

    Zhang, who is turning 26 in October, is among a few table tennis "Grand Slam" winners in the world, which means she has claimed the titles of the Olympic Games, world championships and the World Cup.

    The previous Games at Athens left the Beijing native a sweet memory, as she won there China's 100th Olympic gold medal since the new Asian sport powerhouse joined the summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles 1984.

    She also lifted the women's doubles trophy of the Olympic table tennis competitions in Athens with teammate and veteran player Wang Nan.

    Zhang will take both the women's team and singles events here in Beijing at the table tennis tournament, which will start next Wednesday and run through Aug. 23.

Editor: Xinhuanet
Related Stories
Home Beijing 2008 Olympics
Email Us Back to Top
Top Photos
Olympics opening ceremony
Hu hosts welcoming luncheon for foreign leaders
Top Videos
Olympic torch relay concludes in Chengdu
Chinese Taipei eyes on at least 2 gold medals
Kenyans laud Chinese display at opening of Olympic Games
Chinese President Hu Jintao declares open Beijing Olympic Games
Li Ning lights cauldron of Beijing Olympics
Global media attention rivetted on Beijing Olympics
Athletes march in at Olympics opening ceremony