On June 30, 1997, as Hong Kong was about to officially return to China's embrace, it started to drizzle in Hong Kong.
A day earlier, Gan Guoyang had flown directly from Las Vegas to Hong Kong. As a member of the return ceremony observation group, he was invited to attend the return ceremony.
In an era when international exchanges were still relatively closed, Gan Guoyang was like a beam of light, a window to the outside world, making the greatest contribution an athlete could to China's integration into the world.
He appeared twice on the cover of Time magazine, was listed in major "Most Famous Chinese People" selections, and was designated as an image ambassador by the top leaders.
However, in the face of this historic event, Gan Guoyang seemed much smaller. After arriving in Hong Kong, he quietly checked into his hotel and stayed in his room without venturing out.
