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Tan Xiaomi
At least 6,000 Shenzheners joined midnight parades in Futian and Longgang districts yesterday to mark the first time the city had been awarded an international sports event.
Joyful Shenzhen residents braved light rain and the late-night chill to gather at the Shenzhen Media Group, CITIC Plaza and Longcheng Plaza in Longgang District, where they celebrated the city's success shortly after the host city for the 2011 Universiade was announced at 2:38 a.m. yesterday morning.
A one-hour parade involving 100 taxis, all provided by the Pengcheng taxi company and decorated with celebratory banners, drove through Shennan Thoroughfare from Window of the World to CITIC Plaza.
Some 1,800 residents, including top government officials and students of Shenzhen University and Shenzhen Polytechnic, joined the parade after witnessing the historic moment at the auditorium of Shenzhen Media Group in Futian District.
At Longcheng Plaza in Longgang District, 3,000 local residents, students and migrant workers celebrated the victory with dragon dances and fireworks after watching the live broadcast of the final announcement at the square. The planned Universiade City will be built in that district.
Construction on the Universiade City started yesterday morning with a brief ceremony attended by Vice Mayor Lu Ruifeng and some 100 construction workers.
Lin Mingwei, a physical education teacher with Bao'an Middle School who undertook three overseas cycling tours for the bid, said he and 30 other cyclists had scheduled to ride from Bao'an to CITIC Plaza yesterday morning to mark the success. "However, the celebration was canceled due to the weather," he said, adding that the ride will be held later.
Owners of newsstands at Huaqiangbei told the Shenzhen Daily that they saw a 30 to 45 percent increase in business. "Those who missed last night's live broadcast bought newspapers and extras in the morning," said a stand owner surnamed Huang, who said he expected to close his stall earlier because of the brisk business.
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