英语文摘：Chinese skating pair's wedding ceremony: ticket needed

BEIJING, Aug. 11 (Xinhuanet) --Chinese figure skating couple, Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo will hold their wedding ceremony in the form of a skating performance at the Capital Gymnasium next month, and the highest price just for one ticket to the ceremony is 1,080 yuan, or nearly 160 US dollars, the Beijing Morning Post reported Tuesday.

It's rare that sports stars operate such a commercial activity in China. As this is the first time the couple will give such a performance, Zhao Hongbo, the bridegroom who is also the coordinator behind the performance, said their aim was not money driven.

"From this performance, I hope more people and enterprises can understand figure skating better. Thus, to make the performance perfectly and lay a foundation for commercial performance like this is my goal." Zhao Hongbo said.

Shen Xue (right) and Zhao Hongbo (left)

It's reported the guests invited to the performance include well-known figure skaters such as Evgeni Plushenko and Alexei Konstantinovich Yagudin from Russia, Asada Mao from Japan, Stephane Lambiel from Sweden, and Johnny G. Weir from the U.S. Well-known choreographer Renee Roca, Chinese singer Zhang Liangying and Chinese violinist Lv Siqing will also attend the ceremony.

The revenue from ticket sales, together with the sponsor fee, will cover the performance expenses, including the fees involved with inviting the guests and putting up the field set.

Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo are the first Chinese team to win a medal at an International Skating Union event and at the World Figure Skating Championships. During their 18-year career, they have won one Olympic gold medal, and two bronze medals. They are also a three-time World champion, a three-time Four Continents Champion and a six-time Grand Prix Final champion.