First World Traditional Wushu Festival, an Announcement by USA Chen Tai Chi Federation.

HOUSTON -- The 2004 U.S. Traditional Wushu Team delegation returns from China to the United States after competing in the First World Traditional Wushu Festival held in October 2004. This event was hosted by Anthony Goh, President of the U.S.A. Wushu-Kungfu Federation and Delegation Leader; and Jincai Cheng, President of the U.S.A. Chen Tai Chi Federation as Team Leader. The U.S. team consisted of 56 athletes from all over the country. The team captured 84 medals: 28 gold, 36 silver and 20 bronze. Five Texas athletes won 10 medals: 1 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze. Four of these athletes are from the International Chen style Tai Chi Development Center in Houston: Robert J. Hunt won one gold and one silver; Louis Aquino won two silver; Cheng Li Chuan won two bronze; and Adeline Sung won one silver and one bronze. Mr. Zheng Zhen He, President of the First World Traditional Wushu Festival, honored the Texas team with a reception and commemorative gifts. Eleven year-old Casey Hall, winner of one silver and one bronze medal, was honored with a special photo session and awarded a 2008 Olympic commemorative pin.

Over 60 countries and more than 2,000 athletes participated in the First World Traditional Wushu Festival. The Festival, a world-class athletic event, featured members of the international martial arts federation, local Wushu organizations, and Wushu enthusiasts of all ages.

The participants' most unforgettable experience was the tour of the Shaolin Temple on Oct 19th. The tour took 2,000 international athletes and all team organizers and members, in over 100 vehicles, to sites and cities along the 18.5 kilometer route. Over 45,000 Shaolin disciples from more than 85 schools performed along both sides of the whole 18.5 kilometer journey through mountain ranges and along forests and bayous. Over 200 gigantic balloons decorated both sides of the road, with lion and dragon dances and performances of Wushu and traditional cultural Kung Fu forms performed the entire way.

Anthony Goh, Delegation Leader of the U.S. Traditional Wushu Team and Yu Zai Qing, Chairman of International Wushu Federation, presented a souvenir Buffalo sculpture made of gold to Mayor Zheng Zhou to thank him for his support.