Piglets run during a competition at Heping Park in
Hongkou District.-- Shanghai Daily
Shanghai Daily news
Pigs can't fly, but they can run, swim and dive, as proven by contestants
in the Pig Olympics.
Thousands of locals have made their way to Hongkou
District's Heping Park to watch some 20 pig athletes from Thailand take part in
sporting events over the past month.
The four-legged athletes battle it out
in running, hurdles, jumping through a hoop, swimming and diving every day at
10am and 1pm.
About 1,500 people show up at the park every day to watch the
games, most of whom are groups of primary students, said Yang Ying, office
manager of the Bluesea Broadway Co Ltd, the event's organizer.
"These lovely
pigs are of a special species that is good at sports by nature," she said. "They
started receiving training soon after they were born and became professional
athletes one year later."
Tan yizhou, an 8-year-old who hung the gold medal
onto one of the champion porkers, said he would no longer take it for granted
that all pigs are stupid and lazy.
"It's incredible. I never thought that a
pig could be so clever, dexterous and versatile," he said. The games will run
through May.