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.