Guizhou's Village Olympic Games celebrate diversity in rural sports and culture

Athletes compete in the Village Olympic Games in Guizhou. [Photo/ddcpc website]

The "Kuaishou Village Olympic Games" were held in Rongjiang county, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong autonomous prefecture, Southwest China's Guizhou province, on July 5-7. Domestic and international sports enthusiasts gathered at Rongjiang's Village Super League stadium for the feast of sports and culture.

Since May 2023, Guizhou's Village Super League has attracted attention worldwide. More than 700 people in 12 teams from France, Liberia, and other countries and regions have come to Rongjiang to participate.

At the opening ceremony of the Village Olympic Games, representatives from France, Serbia, New Zealand, Ivory Coast, and other countries brought various performances such as French acrobatics, Serbian Kolo dance, Ivorian Zaouli dance, and New Zealand Haka dance to the audience.

The grand parade of China's ethnic groups also showcased their outstanding skills. Traditional performances such as the Grand Song of the Dong ethnic group, Miao dances, Daoma Dan (a traditional Chinese opera form), lion and dragon dances, acrobatics, and tea-picking dance demonstrated the diversity of Chinese culture.

In addition to cultural performances, common national fitness activities such as fancy skipping rope, group shuttlecock kicking, Chinese yo-yo, and square dancing also appeared at the event.

In terms of competitive events, in addition to traditional events like soccer, basketball, table tennis, and track and field, folk sports events such as dry-land dragon boat racing, high-leg racing, tug-of-war, shuttlecock competition, rice planting with finger-pressure boards, and catching chickens and ducks were popular.