After four-days of competition, the 2004 Cup of China, the
fourth leg of ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix, has finished in
Beijing.
The four-day tournament ended with a gala performance at the
Capital Gymnasium involving all medallists at the Cup of China.
Unlike in the competing sessions, the skaters were more relaxed
on ice. The perfect performances won them a sea of applause from
over 5,000 spectators in the arena.
Skating fans held national flags and shouted slogans, throwing
tributes onto the ice after each performance.
The gala reached its climax when China's top pair, two time
world champions, Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo, appeared in the
spotlight to the romantic music from Moulin Rouge.
At the request of zealous spectators, the golden pair put on an
extra show to Time to Say Goodbye, by Sarah Brightman and Andrea
Bocelli, to close the exhibition.
A madam from Beijing was very excited watching Sunday's
performance.
She said, "I think the performances in Beijing were excellent,
especially the Chinese pairs Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo, and Zhang
Hao and Zhang Dan. It was an artistic feast."
In the past weekend, skaters from 18 countries competed in
Ladies Singles, Men's Singles, Pairs Skating and Ice Dancing.
Chinese veterans Shan Xue and Zhao Hongbo took out their second
Grand Prix title on home soil. American pair Tahith Belbin and
Benjamin Agosto won the Ice Dancing.
Irina Slutskaya of Russia and Canadian Jeffery Buttle pocketed
the gold medals of Ladies and Men's Singles respectively.
The skaters now head to Paris for the fifth leg of the ISU Grand
Prix in France from November 18 to 21.
The fans in China will soon meet the skaters again as the Final
of ISU Grand Prix comes to Beijing next month.
(CRI November 15, 2004)
