NEWS//National games off and running

China's President Xi Jinping declared China’s National Games open at a ceremony in Xian on September 15.

Mini-Olympics

Because of the size of the event and its importance to China, the National Games are called China's "mini-Olympics." The theme for the games is “Games for all, together in mind and action.”

Songs and dances at the opening ceremony celebrated China’s victory against COVID-19, as well as its achievements in space exploration and sport. The festivities celebrated “socialism with Chinese characteristics” and the Chinese Communist Party. Large choirs sang that “socialism is good.”

The games have attracted 12,000 athletes, 4,200 technical officials, 1,500 media members, and 7,000 volunteers, medical workers, and security staff. In addition, tens of thousands of spectators are cheering the athletes on.

Winter Olympics trial

Because of the crowds at the games, they are a test of the country’s Covid-19 defenses and a trial run before next year’s Winter Olympics in Beijing. All the athletes, coaches, referees, and media members live in a biosecure bubble at the village, with no physical contact with the outside world allowed.

China has held the National games every 4th year since 1959. Competition mirrors the events at the Summer Olympics. Events include Chinese favorites like table tennis and badminton. Also included is square dancing. Athletes from all of China’s provinces compete in 35 sports for elite athletes and 19 competitions that feature mass sports programs.

The games are scheduled to continue until September 27.

Sources: South China Morning Press, China Daily 01, 02, 03, MSN, Bitter Winter, Bloomberg, Reuters.