The World Athletics Indoor Championships Nanjing 25 are in full swing at the “Nanjing’s Cube”, bringing together top athletes from around the globe. As thrilling competitions unfold, heartwarming moments are also taking place behind the scenes. On March 21st, an Angolan athlete lost a cherished necklace while warming up. Fortunately, thanks to the kindness of fellow athletes and event volunteers, the necklace was successfully returned to its owner.

At around 12:00 PM, SHEN Xin, a volunteer in charge of the warm-up area, was approached by two foreign athletes. After a brief conversation, she learned that they had found a necklace while warming up but couldn’t locate the owner. “I took the necklace and immediately reported the situation to my supervisor, who advised me to place it at the check-in desk, making it easier for the athlete to retrieve it,” explained SHEN Xin, a volunteer from Nanjing Sport Institute.

“I was responsible for check-in announcements at the desk, but since the athlete was already competing, we couldn’t reach her right away. So, I kept the necklace safe for the time being,” said ZHAN Jingxi, a volunteer from Nanjing Audit University. She described the lost item as a golden necklace with a pendant featuring a national flag, believing it must hold great significance for the athlete. “By 2:00 PM, the owner still hadn’t come for it. Worried that she might be anxious, I quickly finished my lunch and returned to my post.”

At around 3:00 PM, the Angolan athlete arrived at the check-in desk looking for her necklace. ZHAN Jingxi handed it back to her. “She was extremely anxious and thought it was lost for good. But the moment I placed it in her hands, she let out a long sigh of relief,” ZHAN recalled.

Nanjing, a city known for its warmth and hospitality, once again demonstrated its spirit of kindness. After the incident, the Angolan athlete expressed her deep gratitude to the volunteers through the event staff.

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