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Nostalgia as veterans of 1948 London Games meet
By Ni Yinbin |
August 7, 2012, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
WU Chengzhang, 88, a former Chinese basketball player who took part in the 1948 London Olympics, met up with Lionel Price, who had played for the British side at the Games, in London yesterday.
The two veterans watched the men's basketball game between China and Great Britain last night.
Wu still has a picture of the 1948 Olympic game in which China beat Iraq 125-25. Price, 85, also kept a lot of souvenirs from the 1948 games including jerseys, uniforms and hats.
Wu told him he could still remember the game between China and Great Britain 64 years ago when China won 54-25.
"Yes, I remember losing to China," Price said. "In fact, we lost five out of our six games in those Olympics. But 64 years later, I am really overjoyed to meet Wu.
"He's a lovely chap."
Wu was one of 33 athletes from China who took part in the 1948 London Games in basketball, soccer, track and field, swimming and cycling.
"Most of my teammates have passed away and I'm one of the only two still alive," Wu said.
"The other one is our captain, who's already 96 years old."
Wu became a basketball coach after the Games and also established a basketball team for players over the age of 60.
"I played until I was 76 and then had a second retirement," Wu said.
Bridge is the 88-year-olds game these days.
Price said he left the basketball court right after the 1948 games. He now plays golf from time to time.
Both Olympians come from a generation where the ideals of sport were upheld no matter what the result.
"The idea of the Olympic Games was always to take part and not entirely about winning," said Price.
"I have been an Olympian all my life. I don't understand why people break down after winning a silver medal, or a bronze.
"That's not right. Winning any medal is a wonderful feeling."
The two veterans watched the men's basketball game between China and Great Britain last night.
Wu still has a picture of the 1948 Olympic game in which China beat Iraq 125-25. Price, 85, also kept a lot of souvenirs from the 1948 games including jerseys, uniforms and hats.
Wu told him he could still remember the game between China and Great Britain 64 years ago when China won 54-25.
"Yes, I remember losing to China," Price said. "In fact, we lost five out of our six games in those Olympics. But 64 years later, I am really overjoyed to meet Wu.
"He's a lovely chap."
Wu was one of 33 athletes from China who took part in the 1948 London Games in basketball, soccer, track and field, swimming and cycling.
"Most of my teammates have passed away and I'm one of the only two still alive," Wu said.
"The other one is our captain, who's already 96 years old."
Wu became a basketball coach after the Games and also established a basketball team for players over the age of 60.
"I played until I was 76 and then had a second retirement," Wu said.
Bridge is the 88-year-olds game these days.
Price said he left the basketball court right after the 1948 games. He now plays golf from time to time.
Both Olympians come from a generation where the ideals of sport were upheld no matter what the result.
"The idea of the Olympic Games was always to take part and not entirely about winning," said Price.
"I have been an Olympian all my life. I don't understand why people break down after winning a silver medal, or a bronze.
"That's not right. Winning any medal is a wonderful feeling."
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