Wei Jizhong: The epitome and brilliance of Chinese sports
China has a long history and splendid culture. And in this land, sports have played an indispensable role and have been passed down for thousands of years. In this diverse and huge sports world, there are countless outstanding figures, and Wei Jizhong, as a bright pearl in the history of Chinese sports, shines in this land.
Wei Jizhong, born in 1936, is a representative of Shanghai Shuxiangmendi. Originally, he could choose to pursue a career in politics or law, but he chose volleyball. This sport became a career he loved, a choice that would affect his life. He joined the Nanjing University team and became the core of the team in the 1950s. However, his career came to an abrupt end due to an injury. This tortuous experience, perhaps by fate, turned to sports management.
After graduation, Wei Jizhong joined the National Sports Commission and began his career in the field of sports management. In the 70s of the 20th century, it was the period when Chinese sports re-entered the Olympic stage. Wei Jizhong became a key figure in the return of Chinese sports to the Olympics, and his skillful use of language won the support of the world. His decision-making and wisdom have made Chinese sports stand out on the international stage.
In the following years, Wei Jizhong served as the president of the Olympic Council of Asia and the first vice president of the FIVB and other important positions, promoting Chinese sports to the world's first-class. His leadership and audacity made the whole country proud. His famous phrase "persistence is victory" has also become a role model for countless young athletes to follow.
However, just as a large gemstone can have flaws, Wei's leadership style has sparked some controversy. His intervention in the coaching of young coaches, especially the conflict with Chen Zhonghe, has become a hot topic in the sports world. In 2001, Chen Zhonghe succeeded Lang Ping as the head coach of the Chinese women's volleyball team, and Wei Jizhong actively recommended Cai Bin to replace Chen Zhonghe. This personnel arrangement caused an uproar, and the results of the women's volleyball team under Cai Bin were not satisfactory, which also made Wei Jizhong questioned.
In 2012, Lang Ping returned to the Chinese women's volleyball team and led the team to win the gold medal again. However, Wei Jizhong questioned Lang Ping's physical condition and tried to interfere with his contract extension. Under the pressure of public opinion, the Volleyball Association finally chose to renew the contract with Lang Ping, while Wei Jizhong left sadly.
In the table tennis world, Wei Jizhong also caused an uproar. Liu Guoliang, as a legend of Chinese table tennis, has coached the national team for a long time and achieved outstanding results. However, in 2017, the Table Tennis Association announced that Liu Guoliang would leave as head coach and become vice president. This decision has aroused the dissatisfaction and opposition of many people. Wei Jizhong was accused of being behind the scenes, and he questioned Liu Guoliang's coaching achievements, which plunged the entire table tennis community into deep doubts.
Overall, Wei Jizhong is a highly respected sports leader who has made outstanding contributions to the development of sports in China. However, behind the brilliance, it is difficult to hide the shadow of controversy. His story is not only a microcosm of China's sports development, but also a special portrayal of the times. We need to respect the contributions of our predecessors, but we also need to learn from history. The new generation should continue to move forward, promote the continuous progress of Chinese sports, and move towards a more brilliant future.