Celebrities shine at sessions

• Source: Global Times
• [02:32 March 03 2010]
• Comments

Liu Xiang chats with CPPCC participants in Beijing Tuesday before the annual meeting. The conference for national advisors will open Wednesday. Photo: CFP

By Deng Jingyin

China's legendary hurdler Liu Xiang is back in the spotlight again, this time for his bold plan to jump over some political hurdles.

Liu told reporters this week, after he arrived in Beijing for the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), that his proposal to the government was not entirely written by him, but that he got help from ghostwriters.

Liu's revelations to the Information Times, created a stir among some citizens who have questioned Liu's commitment to the CPPCC because he was absent from the annual meetings the past two years.

Liu, a member of CPPCC, captured the gold medal in 2004 in Athens for winning the 110-meter hurdles.

Liu arrived in Beijing on Monday with his proposal calling for the creation of an effective welfare system for athletic coaches in order to improve their livelihood and earnings.

Liu said he was too busy being an athlete to write the proposal by himself.

"I am busy with training. I will pay more attention to our athletes when I am mature enough to put forward the proposal independently," he said.

Liu was admitted to the CPPCC to represent sports interest three years ago. But some citizens said he failed to perform his duties because he could not attend the whole "Two Sessions" in Beijing last year as he was receiving medical treatment in the US and he was absent from the CPPCC session in 2008 for a world championship in Spain.

Liu is just one of a handful of members who include TV and film stars. Singers Song Zuying and Peng Liyuan, internationally acclaimed filmmaker Zhang Yimou and actor Pu Cunxin said they plan to be at this year's meeting.