"Galloping Horses", a painting by the famed Chinese artist Xu Beihong, was auctioned on Monday for 8 million yuan (US$1.14 million) to support the Chinese athletic team taking part in the September Beijing Paralympic Games.

The painting was the first sale in a charity auction held by the China Disabled Persons Federation (CDPF).

Deng Pufang, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, who is also CDPF president and executive chairman of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the 29th Olympiad, pounded the gavel to annouce the start of the auction.

Also sold were works by renowned Chinese artists Zhang Daqian, Zheng Banqiao and Qi Baishi as well as modern artists Fan Zeng and Chen Danqing, and art by one of the founders of the Palace Museum, Wu Ying.

Several items were also auctioned for the benefit of quake survivors, including a football and athletic wear signed by Brazilian soccer star Ronaldinho; a sports suit worn by Hong Kong star Andy Lau during filming of a Paralympic announcement, and several Paralympic gold medals.

(Xinhua News Agency July 1, 2008)