Hey adventurers, get ready to swing into China's vibrant cultural heritage! 🎊 The 12th National Traditional Games of Ethnic Minorities just kicked off this Friday in Sanya, Hainan Province, and everyone's buzzing about the swinging competition that's taking center stage! 🌟
Picture this: colorful swings soaring up to 12 meters high, with athletes aiming skyward in a spectacular display of grace and strength. Each swing comes with a parallel bell rack—yeah, bells! 🔔—that not only amps up the visuals but also plays a key role in height challenges and bell-touching contests. Talk about swinging to new heights, literally! 😲
And here's the twist—it’s a ladies-only event! 💃 The competitors are divided into two weight classes: under 55 kilograms and 55 kilograms and above. The goals? For the height contest, they aim to reach the greatest height with the fewest swings from a 1.3-meter-high launch platform. For the bell-touching contest, it's all about ringing those bells as many times as possible within 10 minutes. Ding ding ding! 🛎️
But swinging isn't just a sport; it's a cherished tradition of the Korean ethnic group in northeast China and is recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage. Coach Yang Yudan of the Jilin delegation shared a captivating backstory: \"Legend has it that women from noble families, longing to see the world beyond their courtyards, would set up swings to catch glimpses of the outside world as they swung higher and higher. Over time, swinging became a joyful pastime for women during the farming off-seasons.\" How cool is that? 🌏❤️
First held in 1953, the National Traditional Games of Ethnic Minorities is one of China's oldest national multi-sport events. This year, around 10,000 athletes from China's 56 ethnic groups have flocked to the tropical paradise of Hainan to compete in 17 sports, featuring 139 events and three demonstration sports. 🏅🏖️
Some events, like the electrifying equestrian competitions, have already galloped through the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest China. The games not only celebrate athleticism but also shine a spotlight on the unity and rich tapestry of cultures within China. 🎌✨
So, whether you're a sports enthusiast, a culture buff, or just love a good story, keep your eyes peeled for more highlights from this incredible event that's swinging traditions into the modern world! 🚀
Reference(s):
Ancient swinging gains spotlight at China's National Traditional Games
cgtn.com
