CCTV News: In 2023, mass cultural and sports activities across the country will flourish, and many people are no longer just spectators sitting under the stage to enjoy performances and watch games, but they are more actively participating in it, expressing their yearning and love for a better life in the new era as "protagonists".
The phenomenal rural sports event "Village Super" in Rongjiang County, Qiandongnan Prefecture, Guizhou Province, became popular this summer, with 20 rural teams, nearly 100 games, and the highest attendance in a single game exceeded 60,000. The number of comprehensive views of related topics on the whole network exceeded 48 billion, helping Rongjiang attract a total of 5.19 million tourists and achieve a comprehensive tourism income of 5.986 billion yuan.
The 34-year-old Dong Yongheng scored a total of 15 goals in 13 games in this year's "Village Super League" and led the Loyal Village team to win the runner-up, so he was affectionately known as the "King of Dong Ball" by his fans.
Dong Yongheng, a member of the football team of Zhongzhong Village, Rongjiang County, Guizhou Province: I was more infected by my teammates. Every scramble and every action of your teammates on the court is actually an encouragement to yourself. Maybe this game is won, not for yourself, but for the whole team.
On the field, he is a "stadium hero" who fights for the honor of the village and runs for his dreams, and when he takes off his jersey, Dong Yongheng is an ordinary person who lives a down-to-earth life in the fireworks of the market. Before the explosion of "Village Super", Dong Yongheng was also a shopkeeper selling Rongjiang roll noodles, and the store he and his family ran together was named the "King of Rongjiang Roll Noodles" by the local government in 2022.
On the one hand, there is life, and on the other hand, there is love, Dong Yongheng wears an apron during the day to sell special food rolls, and insists on training on the court at night. From "King of Rolling Powder" to "King of Dong Qiu", he never thought that his life would change so much because of the word "village super".
The change in Dong Yongheng's identity stems from the "village super" that is popular all over the country. The super traffic brought by the "village super" to Dong Yongheng and Rongjiang in 2023 is inseparable from the good local football culture on the one hand, and the government's investment in mass culture and sports in recent years.
Up to now, the county has reached 14 standard football fields open to the public for free, 50,000 of the county's 385,000 population can play football and like to play football, there are more than 40 rural football teams active in the village super field, and the per capita football field area of Rongjiang County is more than four times the national data.
Dong Yongheng, a member of the football team of Zhongzhong Village, Rongjiang County, Guizhou Province: Because we have a lot of open courts, the sports park is also free and open, which is to allow more people to get this kind of fitness exercise. (I) have the idea of doing football and youth training, because I like football very much, and with the atmosphere cultivated by the village super, I may be more confident in this direction.
In Dong Yongheng's view, the word "village super" carries not only the competition itself, but also self-confidence and hope. Each village super team in Rongjiang is named after the village, and the players are villagers from each village, although they are engaged in different jobs, they also release their love for football on the green field, and they are eager to pass on this love to more people.
After the end of the 2023 "Village Super League" season, Dong Yongheng, as the "King of Football", has been hired as a football consultant for many schools, and he wants to teach his football skills and experience to more Rongjiang teenagers through public welfare classes, and convey the power of active struggle on the field.
Long Anbo, principal of the No. 4 Primary School in Guzhou Town, Rongjiang County, Guizhou Province: Since he came to our school as a football consultant, our original school team was 50 people, and now it has increased to about 150 people, and our inclusive club has reached more than 500 people.
Dong Yongheng, a member of the football team of Zhongzhong Village, Rongjiang County, Guizhou Province: I think this is the happiest thing to be able to drive more children to like football, do a good job in the mass foundation, and be recognized for their love in their hometown.
Source: CCTV