A rural sports carnival recently held in Rongjiang county,MK socks Southwest China's Guizhou Province, has once again put the city under the spotlight, showcasing its down-to-earth nature and its positive impact in promoting mass participation in sports.
Dancers perform during the inaugural "International Village Games" in Rongjiang county, Southwest China's Guizhou Province, on July 5, 2024. Photo: Screenshot from livebroadcast
Held from July 5 to 7, domestic and international sports enthusiasts gathered at the inaugural "International Village Games" to celebrate the diversity in rural sports and culture. During the opening ceremony of the games, representatives from countries like France, Serbia, New Zealand and Cote d'Ivoire amazed the audience with diverse performances, including French acrobatics, Serbian Kolo dance, Ivorian Zaouli dance, and New Zealand Haka dance.
The event also featured a spectacular parade showcasing the skills of China's ethnic groups. Traditional performances such as the Grand Song of the Dong ethnic group, Miao dances, Daoma Dan (a female warrior role in Peking Opera), lion and dragon dances, acrobatics, and tea-picking dance highlighted the rich tapestry of Chinese culture.
While the Olympic Games serve as the pinnacle stage for international professional athletes to strive for athletic accomplishments, the Village Games offer an equally important opportunity for the general public to showcase their talents and enthusiasm for sports.
In addition to common competitive sports such as soccer, basketball, and table tennis, the festive event featured some folk sports including tug-of-war, stilt racing, dry-land dragon boat races, high-leg racing, and chicken catching, which were designed to draw mass participation.
Alongside cultural performances, popular national fitness activities like acrobatic skipping rope, group shuttlecock kicking, diabolo playing, and public square dancing added to the festivities.
The games embraced a wide range of participants, regardless of age, background, or skill level. It allowed everyone, from children to elderly community members, to participate and enjoy sports in a supportive and inclusive environment.
With the participation of international representatives, the event went beyond strengthening community bonds, but more importantly promoted people-to-people exchanges between different nationalities.
By encouraging physical activity and sports participation, the games promote a healthier lifestyle among participants. This is particularly significant in rural areas where access to sports facilities and organized sports events may be limited in some parts of the country.
China's table tennis legend Deng Yaping was invited to compete in the event. Deng said the games and the diverse sports activities provide a platform for sports enthusiasts to show their passion and talent, which plays a significant role in promoting mass participation. Whether it's the city's village soccer league or basketball league, the reason for Rongjiang's phenomenal success lies in its emphasis on establishing an event for the people and by the people. Leveraging the power of sports, Rongjiang has also carved out a unique path of rural revitalization.
According to statistics, in 2023, Rongjiang received over 7.65 million tourists, marking a year-on-year increase of 52.2 percent. The county also achieved a comprehensive tourism revenue of 8.4 billion yuan ($1.16 billion), representing a year-on-year increase of 73.94 percent.
When planning a vacation, the rich sports activities in Rongjiang have given people a favored choice. In addition to sightseeing natural landscapes, a greater emphasis on experiential sports activities and ethnic culture have made the rural county stand out.
The games in Rongjiang provide a meaningful platform for sports enthusiasts to participate and excel. If community-level events like this were to thrive across China, we would no longer need to worry about assembling a decent national soccer team.
The author is a reporter with the Global Times. [email protected]
