On the evening of July 25th, Beijing time, the Chinese "Dream Team" diving squad made their debut at the Olympic Village in Paris. Among them, Quan Hongchan and Chen Yuxi walked side by side, heading to their training session, both dressed in vibrant red outfits. Chen Yiwen, another member of the team, kept a camera by her side, diligently capturing every moment of their preparation.
Nestled in the north of Paris, the Olympic Village spans approximately 52 hectares and comprises 82 buildings that house around 3,000 apartments. After exchanging credentials, reporters made their way from the Media Center, crossing a stone bridge, to the residence of the Chinese Sports Delegation.
Downstairs, a deputy leader of the Chinese diving team waited patiently for his athletes, preparing to lead them to the gym for training. He said that the team's preparations were proceeding smoothly and, based on the competition schedule, the first gold medal for the Olympics and potentially for China could come from either shooting or diving. He expressed his hope for stellar performances from the team.
Moments later, Quan Hongchan appeared, dressed in a red tracksuit adorned with the golden Chinese characters "Zhongguo" (China) on her chest. Carrying a black bag adorned with the Paris Olympic logo. She was followed closely by Chen Yuxi, who squatted against the wall to avoid the sun's glare while waiting for the rest of the team, casually browsing her phone.
Chen Yiwen, who is poised to lead the "Dream Team's" charge for the first gold medal of the Paris Olympics, descended the stairs next, dressed in the official team attire. With a white camera in hand, she captured images along the way, pausing to take a photo of Quan Hongchan and her teammates sitting ahead.
Once all members of the diving team had gathered, the leader arranged for them to board the shuttle bus at the Olympic Village, bound for the gym.
Elsewhere in the village, the skateboarding team, the youngest within the Chinese delegation with an average age, was also spotted. Among them, Zheng Haohao from Guangdong, just 11 years old, stands as the delegation's youngest athlete. The reporter encountered fellow skateboarders Cui Chenxi and Zhu Yuanling, who were carrying laundry bags, preparing to cycle to the laundry room.
"Everything's great!" Cui Chenxi, the youngest gold medalist in China's Asian Games history, replied when asked about their living and training conditions in the Olympic Village.
The Chinese Sports Delegation's residence, a towering structure, stands out prominently in the village, with the Hong Kong Sports Delegation's residence just across the street. The building is adorned in Chinese red, with the Five-Starred Red Flag pasted on the windows. Three red banners bear the words "Jiayou! Zhongguo" (Fighting! China) in Chinese, English, and French, respectively.
A cute panda peeks out from above the "China" on the banner, seemingly observing passersby and waving its little hand in greeting. Across the river from the panda stands the "Olympic Truce Wall."
Upon entering the residence, panda-themed posters with the "Fighting" slogan in both Chinese and French greet visitors. Chinese volunteers and athletes wear panda pins on their chests or carry panda plushies on their backpacks.
A leisure area within the residence provides a space for athletes to rest, chat, and unwind with massage services. The walls are adorned with thoughtfully designed posters showcasing triumphant moments from Olympic champions such as Wang Shun, Zhu Xueying, Ma Long, and Liu Yang, inspiring athletes to persevere and bring glory to their country.
Reporter | Clarice
Photo | Nanfang Plus
Editor | Abby, James
