A6

BY Julie Massé

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CAMPBELLTON - A local girl who visited the Beijing Olympic Games has memories of a great visit.

Accompanied by four other Canadian art contest winners and a family member each, Danyka and her mother were on a flight to Beijing on Aug. 5. After a flight of thirteen hours and with a time difference of eleven hours, they set foot on Chinese soil for seven days.

Her trip had a very full schedule. Upon arrival in Beijing, a ceremony presenting the works of thirty contest winners from across the globe took place. For this occasion, some athletes joined the group. Amongst them were Canadians Bruny Surin (athletics), Nicole Forester (high jump) and the Paralympic athlete Marni Abbott-Peter.

The family had the opportunity to watch the opening ceremonies on a giant screen and attended a few competitions — gymnastics, beach volleyball, and swimming. At the latter, she saw the exceptional American athlete Michael Phelps who won eight gold medals and set seven world records at these games. Danyka, who loves swimming, admits that she preferred the atmosphere and the energy of the volleyball.

In addition to these events, Danyka and her mother saw the Summer Palace (the summer house of the emperor in the days of the Empire), Forbidden City (the home of the emperor) and the Great Wall of China. Danyka descended the monument on a slide similar to the alpine slides once found at Sugarloaf. Tibetan and Chinese children danced when the pair visited the Happy Valley amusement park, which is built on ancient ruins.