雅思人物题——李宁英语新闻.doc

When Li Ning first came to the American West, he shocked the world by winning six Olympic medals in gymnastics three of them gold during the 1984 Los Angeles Games. Prior to 1984, the Peoples Republic had never even won an Olympic medal, and Li Ning was Chinas undisputed star of the L.A. Games, becoming an instant Chinese sports legend. This year, Li is back on the West Coast or rather, his eponymous sportswear company is setting up its first U.S. retail store in Portland, Ore., not far from the headquarters of archrival Nike. This isnt the first time Chinas biggest shoe company will go toe to toe with Nike, which has aggressively marketed itself in China. Despite the growing political influence of China, try asking an American to name a Chinese company and youre not likely to get much of an answer. While South Korea has Samsung and 。Less than two years later, Li Ning the company is still soaring. In March, Li Ning Co. reported a more than 30% rise in profit in 2009. Li Ning started his sportswear company in 1990, building it into a giant, with 2009 sales considerably more than $1 billion. With 7,249 branded stores in China, Li Ning has surpassed Adidas to become the No. 2 sports-apparel company in the country. Unlike an Adidas or a Nike, 99% of Li Nings revenue comes from within China. But this wont be the case for long. Li Ning has signed a deal with Champ Sports, where 67 of its retail outlets in the U.S. will start selling Li Ning products.The pomp of the Olympic opening ceremonies typically never matches the drama of the athletic events themselves, but that all changed in Beijing. Over 15,000 Chinese performers took part in the ceremony; flourishes included 2008 percussionists pounding on ancient drums, dancers twisting around a traditional scroll to pay tribute to Chinese art, and a giant globe that rose up from the center of the stadium. Near the end of the dazzling spectacle Li Ning, the Chinese gymnastics legend and entrepreneur, jogged a 500-meter lap around the top of the Beijing Birds Nest before lighting the Olympic torch. Suspended in the air with flame in hand, only computer-controlled wires wrapped around his waist kept Li from plunging hundreds of feet to the ground. The stunt was a painstaking, yet breathtaking, finale to Chinas grand welcome to the world that only included a few missteps: organizers digitally enhanced some fireworks for television, and ord