Page 3 Profile: Chen Guan Ming

Chen Guan Ming (AFP/Getty)

He looks like a lively fellow

Chen Guan Ming is a farmer from the city of Xuzhou in Eastern China. He’s also probably the Olympic Games’ biggest fan. The 58-year-old, who travels by rickshaw, made a two-year journey from Beijing to London in time for the 2012 Games. Now he’s making the 5,700 mile trip from London to Rio, the host city for the 2016 Olympics, to “promote the Olympic spirit”. But there’s been a bit of a problem along the way.

Red tape? Bureaucracy? Health and safety?

Officers stopped Mr Chen 57 miles into his journey because he was cycling his rickshaw down a dual carriageway.

Probably not the best way to endear yourself to Britain’s motorists

One driver tweeted that Mr Chen was causing “chaos” on the A14 in Cambridgeshire. It’s safe to say he was pedalling at speeds some way below the 70mph limit.

But was he doing anything illegal?

Nope, though he was advised to choose a different route. He is thought to only understand a few words of English, so police were unable to confirm whether any of their advice sank in, and he refused the offer of a map. Mr Chen is believed to be heading to Liverpool.

Where a sensible man would board a plane directly to Rio

Mr Chen has a full three years to fill, so you suspect he won’t be going for the easy option. He’ll probably pop over the Atlantic, cycle across North America, through Mexico and Latin America and then travel around the Amazon rainforest. He funds the ride himself, doing odd jobs and offering rides in the rickshaw, and uses his vehicle to sleep in.