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Sports for villagers

(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-10-27 07:52

The third largest sports event after the Beijing Olympic Games and Paralympics in the country this year, the Sixth National Farmers' Sports Meet that opened yesterday evening at Quanzhou, Fujian province, is unique in its name and style.

Such an event itself is a typical outcome of economic reforms, which started with the rural land responsibility system and greatly emancipated the initiatives of farmers. The first such event was launched in 1988, 10 years after the start of the economic reforms when the living standards of farmers were greatly improved.

Sport activities were definitely a luxury for the majority of Chinese rural villagers before 1978 when their life was an endless struggle to till the land for a hand-to-mouth existence. The economic hardships made it impossible even for many of their urban counterparts to afford paid sport activities.

The launching of a national sporting event for farmers 10 years ago signaled that the meaning of life for Chinese rural villagers was no longer restricted to having enough to eat and wear. It was also a national recognition of their need for recreational activities in their spare time.

And it also symbolized a consensus that China as an agricultural country could not afford to ignore the other needs of rural villagers than their capability and responsibility to guarantee the country's food security.

The games proved to be one with its own characteristics. In addition to ordinary sports items such as basketball, table tennis, swimming and track and field events, some are closely related to their daily farming skills such as running carrying buckets of water, carrying heavy loads on bicycles, rice-seedling planting competitions.

Some very popular folk activities such as dragon boat race and yangge dance competition are also included. To some extent, this event can be described as a carnival for farmers on a national basis.

The fact that the number of athletes is steadily on the increase from more than 1,000 for the first one to more than 3,500 for the current one shows its increasing popularity with farmers.

This event, held just after the Beijing Olympics, whose success has further aroused Chinese people's interest in taking part in sports, will certainly encourage more villagers to participate in sport activities.

The impact such events have had on rural villagers' views on sports is tremendous. The majority of them did not think it necessary to take part in sport activities or physical exercises. Many took it for granted that farming in the fields was more than enough physical exercise, and therefore there was no need for them to have sport activities.

But organized sport activities are becoming increasingly popular with rural villagers in recent years. It is apparent that an increasing number of farmers has come to realize the importance of such activities. The national sporting event for them, held once every four years, has undoubtedly contributed to this change.

(China Daily 10/27/2008 page4)