Engineer Liao Changkang is from Yibin, in Sichuan Province. His Olympics offered far more than he could ever have expected - a ringside seat at the opening ceremony itself, courtesy of a lottery win by his son. To top it all, Liao turned 60 on August 8, 2008.
So how did you get a ticket for one of the most sought-after shows of the century?
My son won it in an internet lottery. He registered online and actually won one, paying just 800 yuan for it. He lives in England, and because of his work he can't always go abroad when he wants to. And because my 60th birthday is on the same day - he gave it to me! It was a very auspicious day, to say the least. The start of the Olympics, not only on my birthday but on my 60th birthday, and then a ticket to the opening ceremony.
What does your son, Liao Li, do in England?
He's an economist. He studied in Cambridge. He is now 28, and comes back to China to see us whenever he can.
How long before the Olympics did he tell you he was going to give you this present?