Since the Eighteenth National Congress of the Communist Party of China, with the holding of large-scale international sports events and the rapid development of competitive sports, mass sports and sports industry, the mainland sports culture has been given more spiritual connotations while vigorously developing. The spirit of the Beijing Winter Olympics has the overall situation in mind, self-confidence and openness; jumping out of the "gold medal theory" and establishing more diversified value concepts; square dancing is popular in Shenzhou, everyone finds their own stage; fitness, ice and snow, marathon and other booms have spawned popular culture and transformed social aesthetics and health concepts.
On January 12, the mascot of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, "Ice Pier" and "Snow Melting", were photographed on the Olympic Landscape Avenue in Beijing. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Xin
Sports culture is the language of the world
Coubertin, the father of the modern Olympics, once said: "The Olympics is not a competition, but a kind of cultural exchange and integration that originates from the heart." ”
The Beijing Winter Olympics, Nanjing Youth Olympic Games and other large-scale international sports events have landed in China, using sports as a bridge to build a stage for cultural exchanges, which is not only the embodiment of the mainland's comprehensive national strength, but also shows a credible, lovely and respectable image of China for the world.
Cultural soft power fuels home diplomacy. During the Beijing Winter Olympics, the ethereal and romantic opening and closing ceremonies let the world see the hearts of Chinese; the Shougang big jumping platform, known as "Industrial Disney", the condensed tower of youth and silence in the air, showed the journey of the mainland's century-old progress between time and space; the cute mascot "Ice Pier", which blew up a "panda wind" around the world; the children's paintings in the winter Olympic village gift package made athletes from all over the world feel warm... Sports breaks stereotypes in a gentler, more honest and friendlier way, turning all the ethereal reverie into a truly cute and accessible Chinese story.
Two Olympic Games, a "double Olympic" city. From "opening the door to welcome guests" to "the world is one", from "me" to "we". From the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games to the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, the sincerity and enthusiasm are still the same, but they add a sense of ease, confidence and calmness.
Chang Yu, director of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies Of the Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee, said: "Today's China has entered the center of the world stage, and the world wants to understand what is happening in China, and wants to know China's ideas and stories, which makes it possible for us to tell the world view of China in the new era." We must rely on the way of talking about cultural differences to talk about the common points of culture, show the common concept between China and the world, and spread the common values that China believes to the world. ”
Showing a more confident and upright posture through sports culture stems from the improvement of national strength and the transformation of social concepts.
Sports culture influences values and aesthetics
Sports culture is silent. Over the past decade, people's perceptions have changed as digital technology has advanced, social media has expanded, and technology for broadcasting has evolved. From the "gold medal theory", to today's more open and diversified evaluation system. Our gaze is no longer limited to the moment of landing and the moment of rushing.
Outside the podium, people saw Jia Zongyang and Qi Guangpu "heroes cherish heroes" to show their camaraderie; Zhang Yufei embraced The Japanese player Chi Jiang Lihuazi after the game, which is the acquaintance and empathy between the players; from baker to snowboarder, Zhang Jiahao pursues a person's winter Olympic dream. Break through the blind spot between prejudice and victory and defeat, friendship, persistence, tenacity... These bursts of light through sports reflect the brilliance of human nature in the corner of looking down on winning and losing.
On March 11, the award ceremony of the Beijing Winter Paralympic Alpine Skiing Women's Grand Slalom (Standing) Competition was held at the Yanqing Paralympic Awards Plaza in Beijing. Champion China's Zhang Mengqiu at the award ceremony. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Jiannan
At the same time, the natural sunshine and health in sports culture have also influenced people's aesthetic concepts during this decade. "Yuanqi Girl" Yang Qian and Zhang Mengqiu turned the podium into a small fashion show; "military god" Lu Xiaojun's fitness routine is highly sought after; Wang Shuang, Shui Qingxia and other two generations of women's football girls show their sonorous beauty outside the stadium. The healthy beauty and strength displayed by sports have gradually bid farewell to the "white and thin" in social aesthetics. Between the "civilized spirit" and the "barbaric physique", the combination of finding wisdom and robustness has gradually become the mainstream of people's pursuit.
Sports culture changes lifestyles
If sports are strong, China is strong, and if the national fortune is prosperous, sports are prosperous. To realize the dream of a sports power, it is necessary to develop the sports industry in an all-round way to meet the increasingly rich sports culture needs of the people. Recently, the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council issued the "Opinions on Building a Higher Level of National Fitness Public Service System", which proposes to create a social atmosphere in which everyone participates in physical exercise.
On June 19, 2021, the final of the 2021 Shanghai Minhang District Citizens' Dance Creation Competition was held at the Shanghai City Theatre. The dance team of Jiangchuan Cultural Center in Minhang District performed the square dance "Naked Feelings". Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Xiang
Zhang Yimou once said: "When the people live happily, they will dance and sing." According to the "China Square Dance Industry Research Report" data, there are currently about 80 million square dance lovers in mainland China. As a unique sports culture phenomenon in the mainland, "square dance" is not only a way for middle-aged and elderly people to exercise and relax, but also provides a solution to social problems in the aging era. Li Junguo, a retired employee from Beijing, said: "Square dancing is not only exercise, but also a sense of youth when everyone is lively and bustling together." ”
Suddenly, like a spring breeze in the night, thousands of trees and pear blossoms bloomed. When Beijing successfully bid for the Winter Olympics in 2015, the mainland put forward the goal of "300 million people participating in ice and snow sports", and every winter since then, the snow fields in northern Cyprus and even the whole country are no longer silent. Ice and snow sports "south exhibition west expansion east", winter skiing, summer surfing has become the choice of more and more young people. The "White Paper on Chinese Youth in the New Era" released on April 21 pointed out that the Beijing Winter Olympics have stimulated the enthusiasm of Chinese youth for ice and snow sports, and young people aged 18 to 30 have become the main force participating in ice and snow sports, with a participation rate of 37.3%, the highest among all ages.
On January 16, 2019, tourists enjoyed skiing at the Meihuashan International Ski Resort in Liupanshui City. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Tao Liang
All-age friendly, lifelong exercise. Sports culture is changing people's lives in a healthy and happy way.
Sports is an important way to improve the people's health level, an important means to meet the people's yearning for a better life, promote the all-round development of people, and an important platform to show the soft power of national culture.
Looking back on the past ten years, sports culture has long been infiltrated into all aspects of the country, society and people's lives, and has become the soul of Chinese sports.
Reporter | Gao Meng