China's Olympic delegation gains record achievement at Paris 2024: official

China

China's Olympic delegation gains record achievement at Paris 2024: official

2024-08-12 09:09 Last Updated At：08-13 00:27

China's Olympic delegation at Paris 2024 achieved its best overseas performance since it comprehensively participated in a Summer Olympics abroad in 1984, said Zhou Jinqiang, deputy head of the delegation at a press conference held in Paris on Sunday.

China's sports delegation, consisting of 404 athletes competing in 232 events across 30 sports, clinched 40 gold, 27 silver and 24 bronze medals. The haul of gold medals surpassed the 39 golds won at the London Olympics, and a total of 60 athletes claimed golds, marking a new record for overseas Olympic participation, Zhou said.

"If there's one word to summarize the performance, it's 'breakthrough'. First, we made a breakthrough in the number of participating events. [Chinese athletes competed in] 232 events, which is the highest number of participating events at overseas Olympics. Athletes in more events have the opportunity to participate in the Olympics. Second, we made a breakthrough in the total number of gold medals, as well as the quality. The 40 gold medals surpassed the 39 golds won in London and the 38 in Tokyo. As many as 60 athletes won gold medals, setting a new record for overseas Olympic participation, matching the number achieved at the Beijing 2008 Olympics. Third, we made a breakthrough in the coverage of gold medal events. At the Paris Olympics, the Chinese sports delegation won gold medals in three disciplines – synchronized swimming, artistic gymnastics and cycling BMX freestyle, in which Chinese athletes had never won gold medals before. Chinese athletes won gold medals in 14 events, second only to the 17 in the Beijing Olympics. Fourth, we made a breakthrough in the number of provinces that cultivated gold medalists. China's gold medalists at the Paris Olympics came from 20 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, and medalists from 24 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, demonstrating the new achievements of the comprehensive and balanced development of competitive sports in China," said Zhou.

Zhou said that China's six traditional strongholds, including diving, table tennis, badminton, artistic gymnastics, shooting and weightlifting, amassed 27 gold medals, accounting for 67.5 percent of the total and showcasing the nation's long-term efforts in scientific training.

The diving team won an unprecedented eight gold medals at the Paris Olympics. The table tennis team overcame major competitors and won all the five gold medals in this sport for the first time. The shooting team made a good start for the delegation's journey in Paris by winning the first gold medal for China and also achieved the best results in its history of Olympic participation.

The Chinese delegation has achieved significant breakthroughs in many events.

The number of medals won by the swimming team in Paris doubled those in the previous two Olympics, with the quartet of Xu Jiayu, Qin Haiyang, Sun Jiajun and Pan Zhanle winning the men's 4x100m medley relay final to break the United States' run of 10 successive gold medals in this event dating back to the Los Angeles 1984 Games. The 21-year-old tennis player Zheng Qinwen made history as she defeated Donna Vekic of Croatia in straight sets to become the first Asian to win the Olympic women's singles gold medal.

Zhou also recognized the rapid progress and huge potential seen in some sports in which China is a late starter, saying that the success could be attributed to club-based and market-oriented training approaches that identify and nurture young talents through targeted and personalized programs.

The 18-year-old Deng Yawen claimed China's first-ever BMX Olympic gold, while B-Girl 671 (Liu Qingyi) clinched the bronze medal in the women's event of breakdancing, which made its Olympic debut at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires in 2018 and was chosen to feature in Paris 2024 as a new sport.

China celebrates Mid-Autumn Festival with vibrant folk culture activities

2024-09-15 23:18 Last Updated At：09-16 01:17

China is abuzz with vibrant celebrations as folk cultural activities, including artistic performances, local snack-making, and cultural tourism events, are being held nationwide to welcome the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival on Tuesday.

The festival, celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar, is a cherished occasion for family reunions.

In Taiyuan, capital of north China's Shanxi Province, the Jinci Museum has seen a surge in holiday visitors, offering an immersive experience of traditional Chinese culture through activities such as cultural performances and music shows.

"Seeing the cultural performances, and being able to wear hanfu [traditional clothing of the Han ethnic group in ancient times] during the Mid-Autumn Festival, has filled me with a strong sense of cultural confidence," said visitor Wu Yiming.

Jinci is a millennium-old temple with over 100 buildings from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties (960-1911), more than 100 sculptures, and 30 ancient trees.

Meanwhile, in the renowned cultural city of Fuzhou, the capital of east China's Fujian Province, a series of events themed 'Come to Fuzhou and Receive Blessings' have been taking place in the city's ancient alleyways, showcasing the unique cultural heritage of the 'Zan' (hairpin).

This traditional art form, part of Fuzhou's intangible cultural heritage, showcases the intricate craftsmanship of hairpins, which symbolize luck and cultural heritage.

"This set of three hairpins I'm wearing weighs 330 grams and combines two elements. First, it features traditional patterns, and second, it incorporates the designs of scissors, razors, and kitchen knives, creating a unique blend of tradition and innovation. We hope that through the efforts of new generations in Fuzhou, we can open a door to this cultural heritage and share it with everyone from a fresh perspective," said Hu Lei, head of the Fuzhou Folklore Costume Team.

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, Shajing Village in the Banan District of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality has hosted a lively event showcasing the local tradition of making glutinous rice cakes (ciba), a special delicacy during the festive season.

The villagers gathered early to prepare the delicacy and share it while enjoying cultural performances rich in local flavor.

Many people have also chosen to travel during the holiday to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, visiting historical sites and landmarks to relax and immerse themselves in traditional Chinese culture.

The Yungang Grottoes Scenic Area in Datong City, Shanxi Province, has become a popular destination for tourists during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, offering personalized tours and photography sessions to appreciate the beauty of the ancient cave art.

The site has enhanced its services and activities to accommodate the diverse needs of visitors during the festive period.

Dating back 1,500 years to the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-535), the Yungang Grottoes boast 45 major caves and more than 59,000 statues. In 2001, they were inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list.

In Xihuilijia Village, Jinxian County in east China's Jiangxi Province, the annual tradition of burning brick towers to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival took place on Friday, as villagers and tourists came together to welcome the joyous occasion.

The ancient village’s unique tradition of setting ablaze towering structures symbolizes hope for a bright future and a prosperous life.

At 20:00, three imposing five-meter fire towers, each built from 3,000 red bricks, dominated the village square. Villagers ignited the structures with dried mugwort, followed by larger pieces of wood, creating a fiery spectacle.

As the flames died down, villagers stirred the embers with long poles, sending sparks dancing in the wind, captivating tourists eager to witness this unique tradition.

The tradition of burning brick towers during the Mid-Autumn Festival has been passed down through generations in the village, with a history spanning over 600 years.