Sports city

Dalian is famous as the hometown of national athletes. China's Olympic dream started with a Dalian resident named Liu Changchun who became first Chinese Olympic athlete when he competed in the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Wang Junxia, who was born and trains in Dalian, is the world record holder in the women's 3,000 m and 10,000 m races.

The Dalian football team won eight championships in the 13 seasons of China's professional football league.

Every year, the city holds more than 300 sports activities, including the International Walking Festival.

In 2006, the walking festival drew 230,000 people to walk along the seaside Binhai Road. It set a new world record.

It was the host city for one of two marathon races held in China by the International Association of Athletics Federations. Dalian also has wheelchair races for disabled athletes.

(China Daily July 18, 2008)