Former world diving champion Tian Liang married his girlfriend,
singer Ye Yiqian, in his hometown of Xi'an in Shaanxi Province yesterday.
The 29-year-old diver is the second high-profile Chinese athlete
to get married this year, following Houston Rockets All-Star center
Yao Ming, who married his long-time girlfriend, 24-year-old Ye Li,
in June.
An extravagant wedding ceremony was held at the five-star
Shangri-La Hotel in Xi'an, with some 80 family members and
relatives present, according to Sohu.com.
The ceremony, which lasted three hours, included an exchange of
rings, the sharing of wedding cake, and tea and flower offerings to
the parents as an expression of gratitude, the website
reported.
An estimated 50 security guards oversaw the ceremony, which
boasted 20 dinner tables and 5,000-yuan (US$676)-per-plate dinners.
About 100 reporters also were on site.
"This is the best moment of my life," said Ye, whose wedding
dress reportedly cost more than 100,000 yuan (US$13,510). "I want
to be a good wife and take care of our parents. I really, really
cherish my love with Tian Liang."
Tian, the two-time Olympic gold medalist, and his musical bride,
a "Super Girl" contestant in 2005, received their official marriage
certificate in Xi'an a month ago.
Tian and Ye started dating in early 2006, but their relationship
was kept under wraps until late October of that year when media
reports revealed that Tian had bought an apartment for Ye as a
gift.
The couple was also spotted at this year's Qingdao International
Sailing Regatta in July, where they participated in an event called
"Yachting Camp for Lovers".
Now a senior official at Shaanxi Sports Bureau, Tian, who won
Olympic golds in the 10-meter platform at the Sydney Games in 2000
and the synchronized platform in Athens in 2004, is one of the most
controversial sports star in China.
He was expelled from China's national team for taking on too
many commercial activities and allegedly refused to return to the
team following the Athens Olympics.
(China Daily November 30, 2007)
