The Shanghai Wildlife Park is holding an "Olympic Games" for animals and welcomes sports fans. More than 300 animals from around the country will be competing in the 2nd National Sports Meeting for Animals.
To the accompanying music of "The Sportsmen's March", elephants, camels, monkeys, zebras, sheep and bears will march onto the field. They will be competing in the various contests of the "Games" including bicycle racing, skating, gymnastics, boxing, football and rope skipping.
Boxing is always a highlight as the two best fighters - the bears - are said to be the respective kings of the South and the North.
Heihei (alias "Tyson") is from Heilongjiang Province and Guigui is from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The match looks interesting and exciting but both boxers won't fight according to the Marquess of Queensberry rules. They never listen to the referee.
A sea lion shakes visitors? hands.
Sea lions are skilled ball players in the water. But even an excellent player can sometimes make a mistake. When a sea lion misses a ball, it puts its "hands" to its face as if ashamed of the missed shot.
If spectators are brave enough to accept a kiss from a sea lion, they can have their picture taken with the creature.
The organizers also invite the audience to compete with another star of the "Games" in a game of tug-of-war. Their opponent will be an elephant.
But even 20 strong men won't be a match for this elephant. Just by using its trunk, it can pull all comers to the ground.
The sports meeting starts at about 10:00am each day and the "Games" will run to October 20.
(Shanghai Star September 28, 2002)
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