Sun Sibei in the game
The runner-up Sun Jiaqi (left), the champion Sun Sibei (middle), and the third runner-up Deng Yawen at the award ceremony
Chinese player Qi Xiangyu in the game
Yesterday, the International Olympic Committee's new event, the first Olympic Qualification Series, was held in Shanghai. In an exclusive interview with Xinhua News Agency yesterday, IOC President Thomas Bach said that the Shanghai leg was an "excellent start" for this new Olympic event, setting a new benchmark for the event. On the same day, in the final of the BMX freestyle women's park race, China's Sun Sibei won the championship with a score of 95.86 points, and Sun Jiaqi and Deng Yawen won the second and third places respectively.
Bach congratulated China on winning the top three women's BMX titles
On the banks of the Huangpu River, skateboarding, rock climbing, break dancing, and BMX freestyle are four emerging Olympic sports staged in the city park. The world's top athletes gathered in Shanghai for the ultimate showdown for the "ticket" to the Paris Olympics. Bach was also on hand to watch the 71-year-old Olympic Movement's "helmsman", who watched the women's BMX freestyle final in the scorching sun, with the Chinese taking the top three.
"[Shanghai] is a fantastic start to the Olympic Qualification Series and I thank and congratulate China and Shanghai for such a great performance and such a great result, as well as for the Chinese Olympic Committee (in the women's freestyle BMX final) for finishing in the top three." Bach said.
Embodying Olympic values in a modern and stylish way
In order to maintain the enthusiasm of the Olympic Games beyond the 10 days of the Olympic Games and attract more attention from young people, the IOC decided to create the Olympic Qualification Series to expand the exposure of the "Road to the Olympics". The inaugural event will be held in Shanghai from May 16 to 19 and Budapest, Hungary from June 20 to 23.
Bach said that the Shanghai tournament has set a new benchmark for this new event. He also joked: "I guess our Hungarian friends get a little nervous after seeing such perfect organization, such beautiful venues, and such an enthusiastic audience." ”
The Olympic Games, the Winter Olympics, the Youth Olympic Games, and the Winter Youth Olympic Games, these events hosted by the International Olympic Committee have long been household names. The slogan of the Olympic Qualification Series is "Younger, More Urban, More Open".
In recent years, the IOC has continued to innovate its programme. The Tokyo Olympics (baseball/softball, karate, skateboarding, rock climbing, surfing), Paris (breakdancing, skateboarding, rock climbing, surfing) and Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo 2026 (ski climbing) are all part of the emerging programme. The inaugural Olympic Qualification Series also featured four emerging sports: skateboarding, rock climbing, break dancing and BMX freestyle.
Talking about these emerging sports that are moving from the streets to the Olympics, Bach said that on the one hand, the emerging sports are different from the traditional ones, but on the other hand, they are also embodying the Olympic values in a modern and fashionable way.
"That's why we've included them in the Olympic programme. You can see here that a group of people come together in these young and modern movements. This is exactly what the Olympic values and the Olympic spirit are all about: competition is fierce, but at the same time friends and mutual respect. ”
According to Bach, these projects are rich and complementary to traditional projects. "We're introducing these new, young sports to the Olympic programme and giving them a big stage around the world. If they hadn't been included in the Olympics, these events wouldn't have had such a broad stage. We saw this at the last Olympics. We are seeing again in Shanghai today how good it is to bring together traditional Olympic sports and athletes with emerging sports and athletes to enrich each other. ”
Interview
Yin Guochen, President of the China DanceSport Federation
Out of the Olympics? Breakdancing doesn't go to zero either
The breakdancing competition in Shanghai of the Paris Olympic Qualification Series kicked off yesterday afternoon. On the same day, in the men's group 40 into 32 competition, Chinese players Qi Xiangyu, Shang Xiaoyu and Zhang Xinjie advanced to the top 32.
As one of the new sports entering the Olympic Games for the first time, breaking is facing a rather awkward situation. After only one successful Olympic qualification, the event will bid farewell to the Olympic Games again in 2028. But despite this, the breakdancers are still doing their best to stand on the Olympic stage. Yin Guochen, president of the China DanceSport Federation, also said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua News Agency that no matter whether it enters or exits the Olympics, the development and achievements of the break dance industry will not return to zero.
Entering the Olympics, Chinese break dancing is catching up
According to Yin Guochen, breaking in China actually began to develop only after 2000. Especially after some dance entertainment programs were broadcast, this project was gradually recognized by the society, but that recognition was still in the stage of play.
"It wasn't until the Olympics that [breakdancing] really rose to a competitive state, which is completely different from playing. From the points race to the qualifying round to the World Championships...... We see that the skills of break dancers around the world, as well as the methods of judging by judges, are constantly improving, and they are constantly being standardized and competitive. It's a tidal wave that we feel firsthand. ”
The "tide" in Yin Guochen's mouth also includes changes in the Chinese breaking team. After more than two years of intensive training, the mainland's first national breaking team was established in early 2023 and started the "sprint" to the Paris Olympics. The contestants of the Chinese breaking team learned and communicated through "external training and competitions". Chinese players represented by Liu Qingyi, Shang Xiaoyu, and Qi Xiangyu came out of nowhere and occupied a place in the world series rankings.
"In the past, in the world, teams such as Japan and South Korea were very strong...... But the Chinese players are growing very fast, and all the good players are also feeling threatened, and they have to update and iterate their skills. Yin Guochen said.
"In the process of entering the Olympic Games, we did not fall behind and caught up, which is something we are more proud of."
Out of the Olympics will not be zeroed in place
In October 2023, the Chinese breaking team was just showing its prominence on the international stage, when a piece of news suddenly struck: the 141st plenary session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved a proposal to add five new sports to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, and breaking was not among them.
At this moment, in China, the break dance competition system and the reserve talent training system are also tending to be perfected.
Yin Guochen said: "After breaking entered the Olympic Games, the biggest change is that we have a formal competition system. The China Street Dance League, which is a league for popularization and material selection, is also the highest level of breaking competition in China. We have introduced an athlete grading system and compiled professional teaching materials to popularize it, so that more enthusiasts can have the right guidance when they get started. Together with the Tianjin Sports Institute, we also established the first China Sports Dance Academy. ”
Despite not being able to enter the 2028 Olympics, Yin said it was all for the Olympics, but not just for the Olympics. Echelon construction and the cultivation of young people are also very helpful to the development of the project itself. "In the Intermediate League, we have set up an under-14 group and winter training for these outstanding players. From the perspective of going abroad to compete now, Chinese players under the age of 14 are leading the way in the world. We do these things not just for one Olympic Games, but for the overall rise and future development of the project. ”
"Amorphous" is breakdancing
Unlike traditional sports, the scene of a break dance competition is often more like a youthful and trendy party. Both the contestants and the audience will reflect their personalities in different ways.
In Yin Guochen's view, "no limits, no definiteness, always breaking through yourself" is an important factor for this project to attract young people. "It never has a fixed pattern for you, I think that's the limitless pursuit of young people, that's the biggest charm, it's cool. It's fun for young people, and I think that's the most interesting thing. ”
For this fusion of art and sports, the expression of "stylization" is also a way to show the personality and characteristics of the players. "Chinese players are also developing their own style...... Where is our unique thing? The contestants have also been incorporating Chinese elements, such as folk dance, tai chi, and so on. ”
Wan also believes that the idea that "sports is an international language" is vividly reflected in the breaking program. Through the exchange of technology, you can make friends. The international language of sports not only broadens the horizons of the athletes, but also allows them to have some international friends.
"We had a very good relationship with Beauvais, Oise, France. We were also covered by several local TV stations. It was a very small city, and they heard that there was a Chinese national team training here, and the coach was French, so they were very interesting and interested in us. When the team members eat or walk on the street, they will be recognized by the local citizens, and we feel very friendly, which I think is a typical case of people-to-people sports diplomacy. ”
This group of texts and pictures / Xinhua News Agency