Tibetans take field for 'New Year Cup'

Fundraising, purchasing building materials, leveling the field, repairing facilities — under the leadership of Karma Chophel and other fathers in the village, nearly every member of the community joined hands to develop the pitch.

This year's tournament took place on the renovated field, attracting 12 teams from the surrounding areas and turning a rural soccer event into the "World Cup" of this eastern Tibetan village. Residents enjoyed butter tea and dried meat as they sat on the ground and watched the games to celebrate the coming of the Tibetan New Year, which will begin on Saturday and end on Monday.

At present, all 74 counties in Xizang have their own soccer pitches, and the construction of standard soccer fields is expanding to grassroots towns and villages. Lhorong county alone boasts six soccer fields, with plans to build three more.