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Roller-skating has been popular in China for many
years, while roller-blading
was not introduced into the country until the mid-1990s. Nowadays,
both are frequently enjoyed activities, especially among the young
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The popularity of these pastimes is not surprising, really. What
youngster doesn't love doing something exciting? The thrills and
spills of whizzing along on roller blades or roller skates are just
the ticket. There's that great feeling of the wind rushing past
one's face, and it's much faster than running.
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And the sport can come with much more than just exhilarating exercise.
He Le is manager of a roller-skating rink in Beijing.
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"We don't simply leave our customers skating around the rink.
We provide all sorts of shows and activities. There's ballroom dancing
on skates in the morning, disco dancing on wheels at midday and
in the afternoon, and games in the evening. Since most of our customers
are students, we even hold an 'English Corner' for them every month."
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He Le's words reflect most managers' ideas on how to run a skating
rink. Of course they try to satisfy their customers' desire to get
some exercise, but also want them to have a lot of fun and enjoyment.
It certainly works: most roller-skating and roller-blading rinks
are crowded with young people having a good time.
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One of them is Chen Dongdong.
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"I love the atmosphere here--it's just great! The music is
good, the dance shows are terrific and there are so many people
the same age as me to share it all with! We can chat, play jokes,
and even push each other around, even though we might hardly know
each other. It's great! I can relax and release all my feelings
here, just like a kid. I like the feeling of going back to childhood.
And it's not too expensive for students, or us poor souls who are
just starting our careers."
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So people can always gather together and make friends at the rink,
forget their worries for a while, enjoy hot music and novel games,
and get some healthy exercise. What a super combination!
(Beijing-2008 12/27/2000)
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