French Senate President Christian Poncelet (front L) hands over President Nicolas Sarkozy's sympathy note to Chinese torchbearer Jin Jing (R) in Shanghai, East China, April 21, 2008. [Xinhua]
A DISABLED Shanghai athlete, who became a national hero for protecting the Beijing Olympic torch from a violent Tibet separatist in Paris, was yesterday invited to visit France again by none other than the country's president, Nicolas Sarkozy.
Jin Jing, who lost her right leg to cancer as a child, has been dubbed "the smiling angel in a wheelchair" in China after holding the torch to her heart while the man tried to wrestle it away from her during the Paris section of the relay on April 7.
Sarkozy's invitation was delivered in a letter presented to Jin yesterday by French Senate President Christian Poncelet at the Shanghai Disabled Persons' Sports Training Center.
Poncelet visited Jin at the center soon after he arrived in the city in the morning.
In his letter, Sarkozy expressed his sympathy for the 27-year-old wheelchair-bound fencer who was attacked during the disrupted relay in Paris.
"I would like to express my deep feeling to you towards the way you were shoved in Paris on that day when you were holding the Olympic flame," Sarkozy said in the letter. "You showed outstanding courage, which honors you, and, through you, all your country."
The Tibet separatist rushed to Jin, tried to snatch away the torch and scratched her jaw. Jin shielded the torch despite repeated attacks by the man.
"I understand that Chinese people's feelings were hurt by what went on that day, and especially by the intolerable attack you suffered which I condemn," Sarkozy said in the letter.
"What happened in Paris has engendered a feeling of bitterness in your country. I want to assure you that the incidents that were brought about by a few people on this sad day don't reflect the feelings of my fellow countrymen for the Chinese people."
Sarkozy invited Jin to come to France soon as his personal guest and as a guest of the French people in a bid to erase "that painful moment."
The attack and some biased French media reports about China and the Beijing Olympics spurred outrage among Chinese Internet users, who have called for boycotts of French-made products and Carrefour, France's biggest retailer.
At the sport center yesterday, Poncelet hugged and kissed Jin. He said that to call on Jin was the shared wish of all his delegation members who represented all French people, Xinhua news agency reported.
"Although something sad happened, we should make efforts to strengthen Sino-French friendship," he said.
After reading Sarkozy's letter, Poncelet presented Jin with a bouquet of lilies.
"To protect the torch is what every Chinese and every athlete is ready to do," said a smiling Jin. "When I joined the torch relay in Paris, I not only passed on the Olympic flame, but also the Chinese people's friendship with the French."
She is thrilled to be invited to France by Sarkozy, and hopes to contribute her own efforts to cement Sino-French friendship, Xinhua said.
Poncelet is paying his third trip to China as French Senate President. His stay ends next Sunday.
