Thorpe Arrives Beijing for Charity Activities

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, September 22, 2002

Thorpe Arrives Beijing for Charity Activities

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Australian swimming super star Ian Thorpe, who arrived in Beijing Saturday morning for his first-ever visit to China, will have his first overseas fund-raising here with the money going to a local school for diabled children.

In addition to meeting with Beijing government officials and being briefed on the city's preparations for the Beijing Olympics,the three world record holder will also attend a charity dinner next Tuesday to raise money for the Beijing Zhiguang Special Education and Training School.

"It's the first time for me to raise money overseas for my foundation......I'll be glad to see some Chinese people benefit from the assistance," Thorpe said. He had attended a charity breakfast in Shanghai and hoped to raise more money this time in Beijing.

Thorpe, eight-time world champion, was voted the most popular athlete in 2001 in China by readers of the China Sports Daily.

Asked whether he will swim during his four-day visit to Beijing,the 19-year-old athlete said it was not on his schedule.

"It's actually a vacation away from swimming, and I'm not goingto swim during the break." He said on a news conference shortly after his arrival.

He added that he was looking forward to other formal occasions,including the Beijing 2008 Olympics, to compete in China.

During the three-day stay in Shanghai,the first stop for his Chinese trip, Thorpe was shocked to find "so many people know about me since I'd never been to China before."

Thorpe had a pleasant experience in Shanghai with having "a lotof eatings" and the warm welcome by the local people. "Now I'm happy to be in Beijing and I hope the support continues," he told the conference.

Thorpe began his trip to Beijing with a journey to the Great Wall in the afternoon and plans to visit the Forbidden City on Sunday morning.

The charity dinner is being organised by the China Australia Chamber of Commerce as part of its Australia China Oration Series to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Australia and the People's Republic of China.

A variety of Chinese dignitaries will be attending the event, including Mr. Liu Jingmin, Vice Mayor of Beijing and Executive Vice President of the Beijing Organising Committee for the OlympicGames (BOCOG), the BOCOG Secretary General, Mr. Wang Wei and othersenior BOCOG officials.

Thorpe's own famous Adidas bodysuit, signed and framed, will beauctioned at the dinner to support the charity. Another valuable item donated for auction will be a piece of calligraphy by Master Xu Bangda, one of China's most renown calligraphers.

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