"Now I am an official member of the Olympic Star Fund!" former
Beijing marathon champion Ai Dongmei told Xinhua on Friday.
"I've been working for the fund for a week, basically collecting
auction stuff," Ai said. Though one of her two clothing shops was
shut down, Ai remained confident of the future. The days when she
had to sell popcorn and children's clothes in street to make ends
meet have gone.
"I will try my best to do something to help those retired
athletes who are still caught in predicament," she added.
With 2008 Beijing Olympics approaching, Ai hopes
that people can focus on developing China sports, as well as on
those retired athletes who once honored their motherland. She calls
on entrepreneurs to join her in giving out a helping hand, and she
also hopes those hard-set athletes can think about contacting the
Olympic Star Fund when necessary.
The Olympic Star Fund was founded by the Red Cross Society of
China in April, dedicated to the well-being of retired and
physically-challenged athletes as well as potential Olympic
stars.
(Xinhua News Agency December 8, 2007)