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Shanghai hog wild for 'Pig Olympics'
Wednesday, April 20, 2005 Posted: 12:49 PM EDT (1649 GMT)
broken link: http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/04/20/pig.olympics.ap/index.html
SHANGHAI, China (AP) -- These pigs run, jump, and swim -- almost anything but fly.
Thousands of Shanghai residents have turned out to a city park to watch a herd of pigs compete in what organizers are calling the "Pig Olympics."
They run over hurdles, jump through hoops, dive, and swim in shows twice a day.
The pigs, a midget species from Thailand, begin training soon after birth and can begin performing professionally after about a year.
Twenty pigs compete twice a day at Heping park, which is a former dolphin pool.
The organizer said the aquatic show was too costly to maintain so it was switched to something that required less maintenance.
Pig races are common in many places, but heavily urban Shanghai offered few opportunities to see farm animals in action.
The show is mostly watched by families with young children.
In addition to stroking and petting, the children are also given a chance to hit the winners with an inflatable mallet.
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