Category: Sports

(Xinhua)15:21, June 17, 2019

BEIJING, June 17 (Xinhua) — Chairman of the China Basketball Association, Yao Ming, awarded the MVP Cup to Peking Universitys Wang Shaojie here on Sunday, as Wangs side defeated Tsinghua University 84-77 to clinch their third consecutive Chinese University Basketball Association (CUBA) title.

Former NBA and CBA Stephon Marbury was also in attendance for the game, which represents the pinnacle of Chinese university basketball, and has been held for the past 21 years. This years match was watched by the largest ever number of spectators and online followers, with live-streaming on Youku Sports having helped further increase the popularity of CUBA matches.

Sponsored by the Federation of University Sports of China (FUSC), the CUBA was founded in 1998 and has been run by Alibaba subsidiary Alisports since last summer.

Cooperating closely with the FUSC, Alisports carried out a series of reforms to the CUBAs competition system. The league is now divided into four sections, after rounds of qualifiers within provinces and municipalities, with the top eight teams in each section competing in the second round of games. It has expanded the total elimination game teams to 32, up from 24.

Moreover, play-offs have been introduced in a bid to balance the game level disparity between sections. And for the first time in CUBA history, elimination games are featured in both home and visiting courts among the leagues top eight teams. Such changes have been accompanied by an increase in spectator numbers, echoing the ambience of North Americas NCAA.

Tsinghua center Guo Jian remarked at the post-game press conference that the introduction of home and visiting court games this season allowed more Tsinghua students to know about the universitys basketball team, increasing the sense of connection and togetherness between players and spectators.

FUSC vice chairman Shen Zhen praised the new CUBA structure, noting that feedback was better than expected, which would encourage them to invest more in the games.

(Xinhua)17:08, June 18, 2019

TOKYO, June 17 (Xinhua) — Recruitment of torch relay runners for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics began on Monday, with people of all genders and nationalities invited to become torchbearers.

Recruitment of Tokyo 2020 torch relay runners will be conducted by four sponsor companies and all 47 prefectures in the country. Applicants can apply to all sponsor companies and one of the prefectures, but can only run once in the relay.

Those who wish to be torchbearers in the relay, which will travel around Japan for 121 days, can first submit their application through smartphone app of Coca-Cola (Japan) Co, one of the torch relay sponsors of Tokyo 2020.

The application period will end on Aug. 31, with the final results expected around the middle of December.

The three other torch relay sponsors, Toyota Motor, Nippon Life Insurance, and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone corporation, will begin accepting applications on June 24, while special entities led by local governments in each prefecture will start doing so on July 1.

About 10,000 torchbearers will run roughly 200 meters each in the Japan leg of the relay, which will pass through all 47 prefectures of the country and feature major landmarks including World Heritage sites and areas devastated by recent natural disasters such as the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

To run in the relay, people must have been born before April 1, 2008, and have a connection with the prefecture in which they wish to run, the organizers said.

(Xinhua)13:44, June 19, 2019

BEIJING, June 19 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping urged the countrys Olympic and world champions enrolled at Beijing Sport University to make greater contributions to Chinas sporting culture and society.

Im glad to know that you cherish your opportunity of pursuing further study while also training hard and promoting sports, Xi said in an open letter addressed to the postgraduate class of Olympic and world champions.

Xi said he had watched a number of their competitions and hailed the athletes for fighting hard to achieve excellent results and win glory for our country at major international competitions.

I hope you maintain your efforts, continue to build China into a leading sporting nation and bring more positive energy to Chinese society, Xi added.

In 2003, Beijing Sport University set up a postgraduate class aimed solely at Olympic and world champion athletes. The class of 2016 recently wrote a letter to President Xi, detailing their studies and training regime. This class consists of eight Olympic champions, 14 world champions and two champion coaches.

(China Daily)07:39, June 20, 2019

Students of Beijing Sport Universitys champions postgraduate program in class. [Photo by Sun Xiaochen/China Daily]

President Xi Jinping encouraged a group of elite student athletes to make greater contributions to Chinas goal of developing into a stronger sporting nation as he replied to a letter they sent to him.

Xi wrote to students of the 2016 class of Beijing Sport Universitys champions postgraduate program on Tuesday to urge them to keep working hard to shoulder greater responsibility in the development of the countrys sporting culture and athletic prowess.

Im glad to know that you cherish your opportunity to pursue further study while also training hard and promoting sports, Xi said in his reply to a letter written jointly by the students in April.

Xi said he had watched a number of their competitions and hailed the athletes for fighting hard to achieve excellent results and win glory for our country at major international competitions.

I hope you maintain your efforts, continue to build China into a leading sporting nation and bring more positive energy to Chinese society, Xi added.

Established in 2003, the champions program is available only to world champion-caliber student athletes who have won Olympic gold medals or world championship titles and their coaches. It helps them advance their academic studies so they will be able to pursue a masters degree in athletic training theories.

The undergraduate program has enrolled 391 students, including the 24-member 2016 class, since its inception. It has helped them make up for gaps in their academic education with tailor-made online courses to boost their future career after retiring from athletic performances.

Short-track speedskater Wu Dajing, gold medalist in mens 500-meter event at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, hailed Xis warm reply as a strong motivator.

Its surprising and inspiring to receive his letter so quickly, having learned that he personally watches us and cares for us while running a country, Wu said on Wednesday.

The presidents attention on us is a high honor, and we will make every minute count in school and in training to pay back his encouragement and support, said Wu, who is working on his masters thesis during the break in the winter sports season.

Xi has made multiple visits to Chinas national Olympic training center and has called for the country to host a green, open-minded and corruption-free Winter Olympics in 2022. He also has expressed his hope that China will stage and win a soccer World Cup.

We will continue investing all the best academic resources to improve the flexible program to make sure that our athletes are well trained, not just in body but in mind as well, said Cao Weidong, president of BSU.

(Xinhua)11:56, June 22, 2019

BEIJING, June 21 (Xinhua) — Chinese Super League side Shandong Luneng announced on Friday that Pedro Delgado has gained Chinese citizenship after all necessary steps to play for the team.

Delgado, born on April 7th, 1997 in Portugal, joined Luneng in 2019. Sources told Xinhua that the 22-year-old midfielder will be eligible to play for Shandong Luneng in Chinese Super League.

Luneng will be hosted by Tianjin Teda on Saturday, and Delgado is ready to play.

He could play in tomorrows match, but he needs to work hard to make the starters list, Luneng head coach Li Xiaopeng said.

Delgado was not alone in China, as Beijing Guoan already had two naturalized players, Li Ke and Hou Yongyong.

Li Ke, the London-born former England youth international, became the first naturalized footballer in the Chinese Super League in March and the first naturalized player to play in Chinese national soccer team in early June.

(China Daily)09:34, June 24, 2019

Renewable energy to take center stage in preparations for 2022 Olympics

The 2022 Winter Olympics are going to cast new light on low-carbon development through the use of renewable energy, sustainable venues and green transportation, according to the organizers.

As China celebrated International Olympic Day on Sunday, the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games unveiled its master plan featuring 18 measures to reduce carbon emissions before and during the Games. The initiative is expected to set new patterns for energy-efficient development beyond 2022 around the region.

The plan, which calls for low-carbon solutions in energy supply, venue construction and transportation, has been fully adopted for preparations for the 2022 Olympics and post-event design work, said Zhang Jiandong, vice-mayor of Beijing and executive vice-president of the organizing committee.

We are on a mission to help address climate change while promoting sustainability, not just for the Games, but also for the whole regions benefit long after them, Zhang said on Sunday at an event held in Beijings Horticulture Expo park to release the plan.

Olympic Day is celebrated annually on June 23 to commemorate the birth of the modern Olympic Games in 1894 at the Sorbonne in Paris.

More than 1,000 Beijing 2022 organizers, sponsors and running enthusiasts participated in a mini-marathon at the park to mark the plans release.

As a highlight of the plan, the 2022 Olympics锛峵o be held in downtown Beijing, its suburban Yanqing district and co-host Zhangjiakou in Hebei province锛峸ill be the first Winter Games whose venues all use clean energy from renewable sources including solar, wind and biomass power according to the organizing committee.

Snow events co-host Zhangjiakou, some 200 kilometers northwest of Beijing, has been singled out by the International Renewable Energy Agency in Abu Dhabi for its clean energy resources in photovoltaic and wind power which could be transmitted to Beijing through a cross-regional grid system being deployed in the area.

The pursuit of a low-carbon Winter Olympics in 2022 will see China pioneer a movement towards the cost-effective decarbonization of the worlds greatest spectacles, Adnan Z. Amin, director-general of the agency, said in China last year.

In Yanqing, another mountain venue cluster for 2022 snow events, the construction of facilities锛峵he national Alpine skiing and sledding tracks as well as an athletes village锛峢as been optimized to be able to use geothermal energy for indoor heating of over 1,000 square meters at each venue, according to property owner Beijing Enterprises Group.

An evaluation of plant and animal life was conducted before construction began in Yanqing, and over 25,000 trees have been moved to a new 53-hectare forest park from the mountain ridge where ski slopes and sledding tracks are being built, according to the 2022 organizing committees Yanqing operation center.

The protection of the environment is the bottom line of all Olympic projects, especially in this mountain area, said Zhang Suzhi, deputy director of the center.

All passenger vehicles used at the Games will be powered by new energy. Charging stations and hydrogenation stations will be installed for official vehicles in competition zones, according to the plan.

Clean-energy shuttles will be available to connect high-speed railway stations and spectator parking lots to all the venues.

(CRI Online)15:41, June 24, 2019

The video clip shows Julia Hawkins breaking records during the National Senior Games in Albuquerque, New Mexico. [Photo: China Plus]

A 103 year-old American runner who broke multiple records in a track and field competition for senior citizens has become an instant star in Chinese social media.

Julia Hawkins won gold in both the 50 and 100 meter races during the National Senior Games in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her feat has sparked a hot discussion about exercising and inspired many Chinese netizens.

Many Weibo users in China are impressed by the elderly sprinter.

Awesome Grandma! Im nothing compared to you.

I reckon this grandma knows health and longevity way much better than Donald Trump.

She does have a dream and passion, really admirable.

Its amazing! Its terrific to keep the strength and flexibility of muscles at 103 years old!

I can never find excuses for not exercising from now on.

As the only centenarian among competitors, Hawkins also set a new record in the history of U.S. track and field as the oldest woman to compete on a track in America.

Hawkins is no stranger to smashing records.

In 2017 she finished a 100 meter race with 40.12 seconds, slashing 6 sec off the time set by previous record holder of the game.

Hawkins once said in an interview that she was a cycling fanatic when she was young but seldom exercised as she got older. The transformation came when she turned 100 years old.

Hawkins said she found it would be more fun to run a 100-meter race at the age of 100-year-old.

She then started her running career with serious training.

Hawkins said she hoped to inspire others to live a healthy life at any age.

Hawkins story also resonates with those who are concerned about Chinas aging society.

Chinas elderly population has been increasing rapidly and is estimated to hit around 400 million by the end of 2035,news agency Xinhua reports.

The physical and mental health of senior citizens of the country has been weighing on the mind of policymakers.

Some expect Hawkins story to inspire the elderly in China to keep a positive mind and live with passion and hope.

By HeYong (Peoples Daily)10:07, June 25, 2019

Children in Zhangjiakou of north China’s Hebei province run to welcome the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. (Photo provided by a local media of Zhangjiakou)

All venues for Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics will be powered by green energy during the preps and official events, according to an office especially set up for the games under the State Grid Beijing Electric Power Company on June 23, the International Olympic Day.

7 venues and supporting facilities will be the first batch to be connected to green electricity starting from July 1, including the National Stadium and National Aquatics Center, the office said.

The Beijing Winter Olympics will be the first one in history to power all venues by green electricity.

Introducing green energy to all venues will be a strong measure to host the games in a green manner and fulfill China’s promise in its bid, said an official from the planning and construction department of the 2022 Olympic Organizing Committee.

It’s also a concrete action to promote the development of China’s clean energy industry and advance ecological progress, the official added.

(Xinhua)14:03, June 27, 2019

TOKYO, June 27 (Xinhua) — The organizers of next years Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games are planning to allow spectators to take drinks in plastic bottles into venues as part of anti-heat measures, local media reported Thursday.

At recent Olympics and Paralympics, spectators have usually been prevented from taking liquids in plastic bottles into venues as part of anti-terrorism measures.

Next years games will be held at a time of year when Tokyos temperatures are usually very high, and organizers are working on ways to ensure people stay hydrated and dont suffer from heatstroke.

Sources close to the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee were quoted as saying that they are planning to allow people to enter venues with liquids in plastic bottles under certain conditions.

The sources said the committee is considering limiting the amount of liquids allowed into venues and requiring people to sample their drinks. According to committee officials, measures to prevent heatstroke are crucial as the condition can put spectators lives at risk.

The 2020 Olympic Games will be held in Tokyo from July 24 to August 9, 2020, followed by the Paralympic Games from August 25 to September 6.

(Xinhua)16:24, June 08, 2019

TOKYO, June 8 (Xinhua) — The Beijing Organizing Committee of the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games held a promotion event in the Japanese capital of Tokyo on Saturday to introduce the latest developments in the preparations for the Beijing Winter Olympics.

The promotion event, which used an exhibition wall and the Charming Beijing photo exhibition to showcase the preparations of Beijing 2022, was a part of Beijing Week, a series of activities to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of sister-city relations between Beijing and Tokyo.

On the exhibition wall with an area of 33 square meters, Beijng 2022 organizers showcased five aspects including the Beijing Winter Olympics vision, Beijings winter sports tradition, emblem of Beijing 2022, competition planning and the National Speed Skating Oval.

At the same time, old photos of the Chinese and Japanese ice hockey teams echoed the 40th anniversary of the establishment of sister city relations between the two cities and the theme of the Beijing Winter Olympics.

The promotion videos of the Beijing 2022 emblems, as well as other related video clips, drew great interest of the audience.

The Charming Beijing photo exhibition displayed some of the Winter Olympic venues, showing the progress of the preparations for the Beijing Winter Olympics.

Meanwhile, sand table, VR glasses and the Beijing Winter Olympics Brochure are also provided to let the audience visually experience the unique charm of the National Speed Skating Oval and the features of other competition venues.

Chang Yu, Director General of the Media and Communications Department of the Beijing Winter Olympic Organizing Committee, introduced the progress of the preparations of Beijing 2022 and the vision of cooperation between Beijing 2022 and Tokyo 2020.

Chang Yu said that the Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee stays committed to hosting the Games in a green, inclusive, open and clean manner, with the aim of delivering a fantastic, extraordinary and excellent Olympic event to the world.

The Beijing Winter Olympics will open on February 4, 2022, which will feature 7 sports, 15 disciplines and 109 events.