CITY GUIDE >Culture and Events
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CITY GUIDE >Culture and Events
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Ultimate word in speed and stamina
By Cheng Anqi (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-05-31 09:07
 A disc, a field, and eight cones. They can capture the imagination of all ages. Entering the Chinese mainland nearly a decade ago, Ultimate Frisbee is fast becoming a big hit. A growing number of players gather at the Peking University every Saturday to indulge in its thrills. For players in the Beijing Ultimate Frisbee, the "ultimate" is no longer a leisurely toss across the beach, but more of a competitive sport. It has graduated from a robust and entertaining beach activity to a highly competitive sport, over the past few years. "It is really taking off," says 30-year-old Zhao Bin who has been playing since the age of 23. "It's a simple sport to get into. Unlike most other sports, it only requires a disc and space." Ultimate Frisbee is a team sport played with a flying disc. It is unique in that players are responsible for making their own calls, and working out all disputed calls with each other. In order to make it work, players must respect one another and the calls they make. This respect is referred to as the "spirit of the game". The code places the responsibility for fair play on the participants themselves. The most serious violation is contact. There are a variety of minor infringements, but contact between players is the big one. Some might find it hard to believe, but the sport's system of self-refereeing works beautifully, says Zhao. |
