Torch relay stands for Olympic spirit, says former Olympic diving champion
7/5/2008 16:16
The torch relay stands for Olympic spirit and should not become a target
of protests, former Olympic diving champion Knape Linderg said
today.
Lindberg is among the 208 torchbearers who will carry the Olympic
torch in the Guangzhou leg and it's the third time for Knape-Lindberg to take
part in the Olympic torch relay.
"I was so honored to become a torchbearer
for the third time.The first two experiences come from Stockholm relay in 1994
Winter Games Lillehammer, Norway and 2004 Athens Games," said the 53-year-old
Swedish.
Lindberg won a bulk of medals including 10m gold and 3m silver in
Olympic Games 1972, 10m silver in Olympic Games 1976, 10m gold and 3m silver in
1973 World Championships.
"I look forward to the Guangzhou relay very much,
and I would prefer to run slowly so as to fully enjoy the moment. I came to the
city 11 years ago for the junior diving championships. Now it's a total
different city and the relay experience in Guangzhou will stay in my memory,"
added Lindberg.
As to the protests that occurred during the relay's
international leg, Lindberg said the torch relay is something standing for the
Olympic spirit and should be respected.
"The Olympic torch relay is something
shared by the world. The Olympic flame belongs to the world, not to China only.
It stands for the Olympic spirit enjoyed worldwide, so it's not the target of
protest," she said.
Lindberg was the coach and team leader for Sweden at 1996
Olympics in Atlanta, 2000 Olympics in Sydney and 2004 Olympics in Athens. She
now works as a diving instructor in her hometown of Karlskoga.
Lindberg will
lead the Swedish diving team in the Beijing Olympic Games. In talk of the
diving, Chinese team's perspective is in her favor.
"Chinese divers are
terrific. China has good facility and a lot of trainers. Most of Chinese divers
are professional and funded by government, but in Sweden our divers need to keep
a job in additional to taking training," she said.
Xinhua
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