Born in Beijing, she is the first Chinese face in the Paris Olympics torch relay.
The 42-year-old Austrian Chinese table tennis player Liu Jia appeared at the Paris Olympic torch relay in Marseille on the 9th. This is the first stop of the torch relay in France, and Liu Jia becomes the first Chinese torchbearer to participate in the Olympic torch relay.
Liu Jia participated in the relay of this site as a "collective torch bearer". This is an innovative move of the Paris Olympics - in the collective relay link, multiple torch bearers act as one and pass as a "collective torch bearer". The Paris Olympic Organizing Committee said that this move is to attract more people to participate in the torch relay, to implement the slogan of "a more open Olympics", and at the same time to highlight the spirit of "more unity" in the form of collective relay.
That day was "Europe Day", and Liu Jia's team was composed of more than 20 athletes from different European countries and regions. There are both Olympic and Paralympic athletes, as well as Summer Olympics and Winter Olympics events. In Liu Jia's words, this is like a "gathering of a big family."
![Born in Beijing, she is the first Chinese face in the Paris Olympics torch relay.](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/2636f230a39d2e14e6106b4990bfdd42.webp)
"I think the Olympic Games is not only about competitive sports, it also conveys a message - the world is one family. Just like this collective transmission, although we come from all over the world and engage in different sports, we celebrate together and pass the torch together. I feel that everyone has this feeling in their hearts, that they hope the world will become better and better," Liu Jia said in an interview.
Many Olympic torchbearers are recommended by stakeholders such as cities, French sports federations, other national and regional Olympic committees, and sponsors. In this collective transfer of the baton, Liu Jia was recommended by the Austrian Olympic Committee and participated in the transfer as a representative of Austrian athletes.
Liu Jia was born in Beijing and went to Austria in 1997 when he was 15 years old. Later, he became an Austrian national and represented Austria in international competitions. In 1998, she swept three gold medals in women's singles, women's doubles and mixed doubles at the European Youth Championships. In 2005, she won the European Championship in the adult category.
![Born in Beijing, she is the first Chinese face in the Paris Olympics torch relay.](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/08d1ab6a0525293a8ad7304833d6607c.webp)
Since 2000, Liu Jia has represented Austria in six consecutive Olympic Games. Her highlight was the 2016 Rio Olympics, where she participated in the opening ceremony as the flag bearer of the Austrian delegation.
"I was very shocked when I saw the arrival of the torch here yesterday. Not everyone of us athletes can be an Olympic champion, but I have been a flag bearer, and I can be a torch bearer today. I feel that being an athlete in this life is really worthwhile. "Liu Jia could not hide her excitement several hours after running the torch relay.
Currently, in addition to being an athlete, Liu Jia is also training local young table tennis players in Austria. At the same time, she also works in the food industry. Her company produces bread mix and has factories in China.
![Born in Beijing, she is the first Chinese face in the Paris Olympics torch relay.](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/84d85a7bd269dc12ef526a2c688b1fc2.webp)
"Next week I will go back to Shanghai to participate in a food exhibition. Now I want to continue doing everything and don't want to give up on anything. But no matter what I do, my background will always be an athlete. This is my background." Liu Jia explain.
There was another detail in the interview. When the reporter saw Liu Jia at the starting point of the baton pass and greeted her in Chinese, Xu heard the familiar Chinese or saw the same Asian face. Liu Jia respond happily