Primary Schools launched the New Football Season

On March 26, 2025, The First Xinjiang Primary School Football Season for the entire Xinjiang region kicked off in Urumqi. This year, the program will support 30 rural primary schools in forming football teams and dispatch university volunteers for a two-month on-site coaching program. Starting in April, county-level and regional leagues will take place, followed by the provincial finals and football exchange camps in August. Outstanding teams will have the opportunity to travel to Beijing and Shanghai for specialized training.

The program is organized by the Xinjiang Youth Development Foundation, a local nonprofit organization. Meanwhile, China National Petroleum Corporation’s Xinjiang Oilfield Company has pledged to donate 10 million RMB annually over the next three years to support children’s football activities.

This primary school football league represents only a small fraction of Xinjiang’s growing football strength. In recent years, Xinjiang players have gained popularity among Chinese football clubs for their exceptional physical fitness and speed. According to the Xinjiang Sports Bureau, by 2024, over 350 players from Xinjiang had joined professional leagues across China. Xinjiang players can be found in football teams from Guangdong, Chengdu, and Shanghai.

Xinjiang Professional Football Players Compete in Match

Xinjiang’s youth football training system is also well-regarded nationwide, with young players delivering impressive performances in national youth competitions.

Football culture is deeply ingrained in Xinjiang’s primary schools. In Kashgar, students from 22 specialized football schools gather at training centers every weekend, with nearly 1,000 primary and middle school students participating. Many of them travel over ten kilometers just to play a match.

Beyond passionate young players, the presence of experienced coaches and top-tier training facilities makes the football centers highly appealing to aspiring athletes.

Primary Students Engage in Football Training

Construction of the football training base began in September 2022, funded by a 100 million RMB investment from Shenzhen’s aid program for Xinjiang. The facility covers 14,300 square meters with a land area of 9 hectares. It features two five-a-side and two eight-a-side football fields, three eleven-a-side fields, one indoor five-a-side field, and one beach football field, along with two basketball and two volleyball courts. The high-quality turf not only enhances safety for young players but also meets FIFA standards for top-level competitions.

To further enhance training quality, the base has recruited over 30 professional coaches, all holding at least a D-level coaching certificate and with experience in university-level football competitions. Head coach Lichun Hou stated, “In addition to our regular coaching staff, we have also invited three foreign coaches to introduce advanced international training methods and tactical strategies.”

The Peking Opera Zuo Zongtang Reclaims Xinjiang Comes to Life on Stage

On March 21, 2025, the National Peking Opera Company and the Xinjiang Peking Opera Troupe officially began rehearsals for the historical Peking opera Returning to the Homeland. The play is based on the story of Zuo Zongtang, a renowned late-Qing general who made great efforts to reclaim Xinjiang. To ensure historical accuracy, the creative team conducted in-depth research, consulting historical records and making multiple field visits to Urumqi and Ili.

Zuo Zongtang

Returning to the Homeland portrays historical events that took place in 1875. At that time, under the manipulation of Britain and Russia, Mohammad Yaqub Beg, a general of the Khanate of Kokand—located in present-day Uzbekistan—led a decade-long invasion of Xinjiang. Foreign powers competed for control of Xinjiang to serve their own interests, posing a severe threat to China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Under difficult circumstances, Zuo Zongtang, a high-ranking official of the Qing dynasty, led a military campaign westward with a firm resolve to reclaim lost territory. He carefully selected elite soldiers, ensured smooth supply lines to maintain combat readiness, and advanced swiftly to avoid a prolonged war of attrition. Within three years, he successfully reclaimed nearly all of Xinjiang, with the exception of Ili.

After reclaiming Xinjiang, Zuo Zongtang worked to restore economic production and revive trade along the ancient Silk Road. He encouraged land cultivation, promoted diversified industries such as animal husbandry, cotton weaving, and sericulture, and initiated large-scale water conservancy projects. By the late Qing period, Xinjiang had renovated and constructed over 940 main canals and 2,300 branch canals, irrigating more than 733,000 hectares of farmland. At the same time, he actively developed road networks, establishing key transportation routes that connected southern Xinjiang with northern Xinjiang and the Chinese heartland.

Nowadays, through the collaboration between the National Peking Opera Company and the Xinjiang Peking Opera Troupe, this historical event is brought to life on stage. While revisiting the past, the performance also offers Xinjiang’s opera fans an extraordinary experience.

The new long-staple cotton variety overcomes several technical barriers

Recently, the Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences announced exciting news. After 10 years of research, the team led by Chief Scientist Xueyuan Li has successfully developed two new cotton varieties GP-01 and GP-02. These new varieties address the previous challenges faced by Xinjiang’s long-staple cotton, such as difficulties in machine harvesting, low yields, and a limited growing range.

In terms of performance, the new varieties feature larger cotton bolls, with each boll weighing 6 grams—twice the weight of the previous variety. Additionally, the lint percentage is higher, with 100 pounds of unprocessed cotton yielding 36-38 pounds of cotton fiber, a 6% increase compared to previous varieties. These improvements significantly boost cotton yield.

Xingjiang long-staple cotton

More importantly, the new varieties have a broader suitable growing range and can be harvested on a large scale by machines. Their textile properties also meet the needs of manufacturers.

Xinjiang long-staple cotton is a premium cotton known for its strength, which is over 20% greater than regular cotton, and its softness and luster, which surpass ordinary cotton. It is one of the key raw materials for high-end shirts and luxury bedding. Due to issues such as limited yield and high costs, this cotton was expensive. According to 2021 data, the export price of Xinjiang long-staple cotton was $17,000 per ton, while U.S. long-staple cotton was priced at $12,000 per ton, making Xinjiang’s cotton 40% more expensive.

The breakthrough from the Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences may not only increase cotton production but also enhance the market competitiveness of Xinjiang cotton. Xia Liu, a senior executive from the Xinjiang-based textile company ESQUEL GROUP, commented, “For textile enterprises, this new variety is not only of superior quality but also helps lower cotton costs.”

The post The Xinjiang Beyond Your Imagination: Primary Schools launched the New Football Season first appeared on China Academy.

Over the past week, four key developments highlight Xinjiang’s progress in sports, trade, and grassroots governance. Here’s a detailed look.

Sayram Lake Cycling Race Upgraded to International Event

Sayram Lake, a nationally protected scenic area and wetland park in Xinjiang’s Bortala Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture near Kazakhstan, will host the 17th Sayram Lake Cycling Tour from May 31 to June 4

First held in 2007 and upgraded to a national-level competition in 2013, the race has become one of China’s premier road cycling events. It is called the “most beautiful event” by amateur cycling enthusiasts from all over the country. This year, it will expand into an international tournament, featuring over 60 professional teams and 400 athletes from across China and abroad.

Photo of previous Sayram Lake Cycling Race

This year’s event will introduce a women’s elite category. Many female cyclists have shown strong interest in it, with many signing up and inquiring. Additionally, the race will debut an amateur participation ride on the final day, offering 1,000 slots for amateur cycling enthusiasts to experience the professional track.

The total race distance around the lake is 436 kilometers, with elevation change of nearly 2,000 meters. During the ride, cyclists can enjoy views of snow-capped mountains, deserts grasslands, and alpine scenery.

Xinjiang Builds “Driver Homes” at Border Ports to Serve Foreign Truckers

Xinjiang, which shares borders with eight countries including Russia and Kazakhstan, handled over one million cross-border vehicle transits last year. To improve conditions for international freight truckers, the region has built 16 “Driver Home” service facilities—10 at border checkpoints and six in logistics parks—with 12 additional locations planned this year. The checkpoint facilities provide short-term amenities for truckers during customs clearance, while those in logistics parks cater to truckers requiring longer stays between cargo transfers.

Truckers watching TV at a Drivers’ Home

The Khorgos Port, the world’s largest dry port, is a vital trade gateway between China and Kazakhstan. Local government has built five international “Driver Homes” covering over 2,600 square meters. These facilities offer comprehensive one-stop services for both domestic and foreign drivers, featuring amenities such as sofas, televisions, microwave ovens, water dispensers, and first-aid kits. The centers integrate eight key functions, including dining, vehicle maintenance, telemedicine, and logistics information platforms.

Truckers dining at a Drivers’ Home

“It’s very convenient—we can rest, shower, and eat here while waiting to unload cargo,” said Serjan Borjan, a truck driver from Kazakhstan.

Tekes County Sends 254 Cadres for Rotational Training in Developed Cities

Tekes County is located in northwestern Xinjiang, 3,389 kilometers from Beijing. Recently, the county dispatched 254 local cadres in 14 batches to developed cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen for specialized training. The program aims to broaden perspectives on rural revitalization, economic development, and public service delivery.

The county tailored the training to eight key focus areas, including grassroots governance and cultural tourism integration, with content customized by profession: village officials may follow Shanghai community leaders for a month to observe management practices, while teachers and doctors receive advanced training at urban schools and hospitals.

After returning home, the cadres need to submit post-training reports and participate in webinars to share insights. The county also launched an exemplary practitioner campaign to encourage cadres to apply acquired knowledge toward solving critical local development challenges.

Bayiguxike Village Installs 12 Public EV Charging Stations

Bayiguxike Village, located 577 kilometers from capital Urumqi, is home to just 300 households.

In May 2024, 12 new public electric vehicle charging stations were built in this village. By 10 a.m. daily, the charging spots become increasingly busy as locals plug in their vehicles, often chatting with others while they wait.

Locals residents charging their cars

“Before the charging stations were installed, I had to drive my gas vehicle, spending over ￥800 ($110) a month on fuel,” said Xu Xiaowu, who runs a lighting store in the county town 3 kilometers away. “Now with an EV, my monthly charging costs are around ￥200 ($28) —the savings allow me to stock more inventory.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Wang from Urumqi deftly scanned the QR code to initiate charging. “The navigation app showed chargers here, so I came straight to the village,” he said. “I’m planning a multi-day tour of the surrounding area!”

The village also built a self-drive tourist camp across from the charging stations, offering ten free amenities: WiFi, hot water, a gym, tea lounge, showers, restrooms, parking, a shared kitchen, a tool shed, and indoor/outdoor children’s play areas.

“More tourists mean boosted business for our local services,” said Wang Xiaoli, a local official. “Many tourists now stop to enjoy farmhouse meals and countryside views.”

In 2024, Bayiguxike’s 300 households saw per capita disposable income reach 22,560 yuan, a 16% year-on-year increase.

The post The Xinjiang Beyond Your Imagination: A 2,000m Cloud-Top Riding Tour first appeared on China Academy.

At just 19 years old, Pan Zhanle won the men’s 100-meter freestyle gold with a time of 46.40 seconds, shattering the expectations of many Westerners harboring racial biases. American swimming star Chalmers liked a post on social media falsely accusing Chinese athletes of doping, and then his coach posted a video questioning the so-called “drug issues” of the Chinese swimming team. This revealed the unsportsmanlike attitude of many in the West who couldn’t accept losing. However, these provocations only fueled Pan Zhanle’s competitive spirit. In the men’s 4×100-meter medley relay final, he swam an impressive 45.92 seconds, helping China stage a comeback victory and breaking the U.S. swim team’s 40-year gold medal streak in the event.

                     Pan Zhanle won the men’s 100-meter freestyle gold and broke world record.

When interviewed by the media, Pan Zhanle also said, “I greeted Chalmers after the match, but he completely ignored me. During our training, Alexey from the American team did a somersault directly splashing water towards our coach while the coach was on the shore, it feels like they look down on us. Today, I finally took down all of them.” He then added with genuine sincerity, “Should I be saying this?” His candidness quickly won over foreign fans online. One commented, “The reason they ignored you is because they’re jealous—you’re the best!” Another said, “They were too arrogant, and you won.” One fan even remarked on Pan’s “Should I be saying this?” line, noting, “Despite being treated this way, he still shows respect to others.” It seems American athletes noticed these reactions and ultimately reconciled with Pan Zhanle, at least on the surface. This highlights a point we often mention: American culture values strength—both hard and soft power. Only through competition can better communication be achieved.

Pan Zhanle later gave an interview to CMG, where he shared his “box theory.” When asked about Australian swim coach Hawke’s comment that his performance was “beyond human capability,” Pan humorously responded: “He’s still stuck in his own box. But whether it’s encouragement or criticism, it all motivates me.” Pan added, “He said it well. He should say it more often to mislead Westerners—then we’ll really rise.” This echoes a sentiment often expressed on our show: “Keep them in the dark, and in the end, it will be them who regret it, not us.”

Similarly, 21-year-old Zheng Qinwen defeated Croatian tennis star Donna Vekić to win China’s first-ever women’s singles Olympic gold in tennis. Women’s tennis has long been considered a stronghold of Western nations, but Zheng shattered that stereotype with her powerful and aggressive style of play.

Many in the West hold the biased view that Chinese athletes excel in technical sports but fall short in strength-based events. This time, however, they witnessed China reaching the top in power sports like weightlifting, swimming, and tennis. After her victory, Zheng Qinwen proudly stated at the press conference, “I think this match was unbelievably perfect! I just made history.”

Foreigners often mispronounce Zheng Qinwen’s name, “Qin,” in pinyin, as “Queen.” Zheng Qinwen happily embraces this nickname and proudly declares, “I deserve it!” We love this kind of confidence in our post-2000 generation. As I often say, it’s time for Chinese people to be confident and pass the hat of insecurity to our rivals.

In an interview, Zheng said, “Even though I’m exhausted today, I feel like I could keep playing. If they asked me to play for my country for another three hours, I’d gladly do it again.” In the highly commercialized world of tennis, Grand Slams are often seen as the pinnacle of achievement for most players. But Zheng Qinwen expressed a different view: “For me and my family, the Olympics have always been more important than Grand Slams. In our hearts, national honor always comes before personal glory. I believe every Chinese person feels the same way.”

The post The West’s Ungracious Behavior At The Olympics Reveals Their Decline first appeared on China Academy.

Moreover, the process of the “great changes unseen in a century” has endowed the Olympics with a completely different connotation. The Chinese people watching the Olympics have also gained new insights and experiences from it: objectively speaking, no matter how good China’s subjective intentions are, the United States has used its advantageous capabilities to shape the Olympics as a microcosm of the strategic competition between China and the United States in the economic and sports fields. This competition is not only a battle for gold medals on the field, but also a comprehensive competition in global influence, national image, and the right to speak on the rules.

To be objective, since the time of Coubertin, the Olympics have objectively always been a stage for displaying national strength and national pride. Against the background of the strategic competition between China and the United States, the Paris Olympics has gone beyond the traditional sporting event and has been constructed by the United States as a new arena for the China-US competition.

The Greek athletes who participated in the first Olympic Games in 1896

One of the key issues of this Olympics is the strict implementation of doping and its testing, which is a focal point of the China-US strategic competition: the strategy chosen by the United States is the weaponization of doping testing, that is, first to discredit Chinese athletes through disinformation in the mainstream Western media; then, by competing with organizations like WADA, force Chinese athletes to accept testing that can interfere with normal competition, while maintaining a significantly more relaxed attitude towards Western athletes; and finally, leveraging the soft power it has gained from long-term ideological and cultural colonization on global, especially Chinese social media platforms, to systematically encircle China.

The foreign media did not fully notice some indicative “account deletion” incidents, but the biggest gain for the Chinese people is the realization that the previous inappropriate practices based on misinformation and cultural differences in international norms and competitive rules must be effectively corrected. This awareness and its spread are expected to have a more far-reaching and profound impact on China-US relations.

NOTE about “account deletion” incidents
Chinese netizens found an account on Weibo with the screen name “Medley” and found that the account posted many “dangerous remarks,” including mocking the Chinese Air Force’s J-10 accident. In addition, “Medley” published an article during the Olympic Games to analyze the issue of Chinese sports fans saying that “the American swimming team was suspected of turning purple after the game”, saying that the real situation he saw on the spot was different from that of Chinese netizens.The inconsistencies seen on television allude to the Chinese broadcast platform’s deliberate efforts to “color” American athletes and create public opinion. After his Weibo account was reported, Yuan Haoran urgently deleted Weibo and even blocked the account.

The ranking of the gold medal table is also one of the visualized focal points of this competition. Cognitively, the Chinese people, athletes, coaches, and relevant departmental staff have long been indoctrinated with the customized version of information and knowledge, instilling the advanced, postmodern cognition of “friendship first, competition second”, and “gold medals are not important, medals are not important” has also served as a hallmark of the “progressiveness” of Western countries, long dominating the discourse around the Olympics.

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, the West’s “meticulous competition” over the medal tally, ranking, and other areas was undisguised. For China, this represented a cognitive awakening – the Chinese people became aware of the existence of indoctrination, and began to systematically reflect on the Chinese media, relevant government agencies, and active netizens who failed to awaken in time and continued to indoctrinate the Chinese public in the guise of “spokespersons” – a uniquely Chinese-style online movement truly led by the people.

This substantive cognitive awakening, combined with the outstanding performance of the new generation of Chinese athletes, has demonstrated the path of the China-US strategic competition in an alternative way: China must make substantive adjustments to its own cognitive and behavioral patterns while competing strategically with the US, in order to truly adapt to the new landscape of the China-US strategic game. This can also be seen as one of the most important strategic tasks of China’s new era of reform and opening up.

The Paris Olympics has become a new arena for China-US competition, deeply reflecting the increasingly intense confrontation between the two countries on the international stage. Competitive sports are no longer just a contest of skills and physical abilities, but have become an important means of showcasing national soft power and maintaining international image. In this context, every event and match at the Paris Olympics has become part of the China-US strategic game. Whether it’s doping testing, the medal tally ranking, or the fight for discourse power in international sports organizations, the competition between China and the US has extended to every corner of the Olympics, becoming part of the global strategic competition.

The Chinese men’s 4x100m medley relay team won the gold, breaking the 40-year American monopoly in this event

This process is actually the result of the US-led construction, and China has the very typical characteristics of “being squeezed – deeply stimulated – awakened – counteracted”. That batch of so-called “internationalized” Chinese elites who were shaped by the unequal power relationship in a special period are also undergoing scrutiny from the Chinese public in this game scenario, with only one standard: whether they have sufficient ability to take visible actions to properly safeguard China’s national interests. Individuals who are overly “internationalized” or even “sanctified” will be systematically evolved and replaced in this process.

Historian Niall Ferguson, who has used the traditional label of the “Thucydides Trap” to seek a fashionable cover for China’s strategic competition, pointed out in an article on the Paris Olympics and China-US strategic competition that the Olympics has become a symbol of China-US strategic competition, similar to the rivalry between the US and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. However, while Ferguson’s analysis reveals the competition between China and the US at the Olympics, it ignores the fundamental differences in their understanding of this competition.

China sees the Paris Olympics as a fair competition platform under the leadership of fair international rules, emphasizing respect for and compliance with the rules. At least until the US proves through concrete actions that China’s understanding is wrong, China believes this way. From China’s perspective, the Olympics is not only a stage for showcasing national strength, but also a symbol of international cooperation and the spirit of sports. Therefore, when controversies or misunderstandings arise, Chinese officials and media often prioritize how to convince their own athletes and spectators to accept and recognize international rules. This attitude not only reflects China’s respect for the international order, but also reflects its desire to gain global recognition by complying with the rules.

In the sports philosophy of China, when facing international events like the Olympics, the mentality is to accept and learn international rules, seeking “recognition and acceptance” from the international community. In this process, China’s early elite have distinct pro-US and pro-European characteristics. The rules formulated by Europe and the US, including changes to the rules, are seen as the “necessary components” of the “self-evident international society”, unless they truly touch upon the bottom line of survival. The Chinese government and sports circles attach great importance to the advocacy of the sports spirit, believing that only under the premise of fair competition can the country’s honor be a source of pride. Therefore, when Chinese athletes encounter adverse rulings, including the weaponization and abuse of doping tests, which are overly lenient towards the US, the reaction from the Chinese side, such as the person who deleted their account under the gaze of all netizens, is first to use a strong and typical “gaslighting” approach to ensure that athletes and the public can understand and accept these rulings, rather than blaming or questioning the rules themselves.

However, the American perspective is starkly different. Ferguson likened the Paris Olympics to the US-Soviet competition during the Cold War, a metaphor that to some extent reveals the US view of the current China-US competition. For the US, the Paris Olympics is not only a sporting event, but also part of the global hegemonic struggle. The US political circles and media tend to view the competition for gold medals as a symbol of national strength, and use it to maintain their global leadership position.

Therefore, in the US understanding, the Olympics is not only a competition platform, but also a tool to maintain the global power structure. So the US has no interest in competing with China, the US only has an interest in winning the competition with China. When it comes to the Olympics, this means the US wants to win as many gold medals as possible, while using various means to prevent China from winning gold medals. Driven by this Cold War mentality, the US not only engages in fierce competition with China in the gold medal standings, but also closely monitors Chinese athletes through global anti-doping agencies, even being accused of “weaponizing” these agencies to suppress China’s sports achievements. In addition, the US media’s smear campaigns against Chinese athletes also frequently appear, which not only affects the international image of Chinese athletes, but also further exacerbates the antagonism between China and the US.

Former Olympic swimming champion Michael Phelps attended a hearing, saying the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has not tested Chinese athletes enough. However, in just 10 days in France, the Chinese swimming team underwent nearly 200 drug tests

The US understanding of the Paris Olympics seems more like a return to the US-Soviet competition during the Cold War. Within this framework, the US sees sports as part of strategic competition, using various means, including public opinion, rule interpretation, and the influence of international organizations, to ensure it has the upper hand in this competition. This approach not only reflects the US’s anxiety over its hegemonic position, but also reflects its defensive posture in the face of China’s rise: clearly in many areas, the US has no effective strategies and means other than leveraging its distinctive “capital-technology” model, including but not limited to the “purple face team”, to win the competition.

Through the observation of the Paris Olympics, it is not difficult to find that there are fundamental differences in the ideological views between China and the US on global affairs: China tends to improve its global status by abiding by and integrating into the existing international rule system, while the US tends to maintain its leadership position by modifying rules or exerting strong pressure. In other words, China focuses on procedural justice, while the US, while ostensibly emphasizing procedures and rules, is actually focused on the final outcome, and refuses to accept any result other than a US victory. In this respect, it has a similar essence to the Trump’s view of the presidential election results.

Looking at the Olympics, the performance of China and the US at the Paris Olympics reveals their different understandings of rules and competition, and this difference in understanding is the core challenge facing the strategic competition between China and the US. China is willing to improve its own strength and status by participating in global competition, while the US seems more inclined to ensure it always remains in the position of the winner, even if it means modifying rules or using informal means to achieve this goal.

On the one hand, China has shown respect for rules and a desire for fair competition. At the Paris Olympics, Chinese athletes followed the rules set by international sports organizations and strived for outstanding results through tireless effort and training. When faced with unsatisfactory results, China usually chooses to acknowledge and accept them, rather than questioning the rules or attempting to change the competition outcome. For China, competition is not just about winning, but about enhancing its own strength and accumulating experience through competition, so as to perform better in future events.

This reflects China’s traditional virtue of gentleness and restraint in the field of competitive sports, but this behavior has not been recognized and accepted by the West,  and has even further aggravated the attacks from the West: because of this gentleness, there is no substantive retaliation, so the cost of the attacks tends to be infinitesimal, and the benefit tends to be unlimited. This perception has historical significance, reflecting China’s journey of self-restraint to achieve its own development, but now is the time to adjust this kind of cognition!

Ironically, the US suppression of China has been constantly dispelling the historical misconceptions formed in China, and although it may currently face some challenges and pressures, as long as the Chinese people systematically complete this “disenchantment” and awakening, and with time, through our efforts, China will eventually be able to turn the situation around step by step.

At the Paris Olympics closing ceremony, Chinese athlete Sun Yingsha represented Asian athletes and the world’s athletes to extinguish the Olympic flame

On the other hand, the US attitude towards rules and competition more comprehensively demonstrates the complexity of a decaying hegemony. For the US, victory itself is more important than the fairness of the rules, and the gold medals in sports competitions have become a key anchor for continuously consolidating the US’s confidence in great power competition. The Paris Olympics may become the first occasion for this mindset to erupt, and it is expected that the 2028 Olympics will face even more severe challenges, after all, the US mentality towards seeing Chinese athletes standing on the podium is already very close to that of a certain person in the 1930s, who turned away and refused to shake hands or award the medal after seeing Jesse Owens standing on the podium. Faced with China’s rise, the US is not satisfied with competing fairly with China under the existing rules, but tends to ensure its victory in this competition through means such as modifying rules, manipulating international institutions, or even smearing its opponents. This approach not only undermines the fairness of international rules, but also injects uncertainty into global sports competition.

This US mentality can be extended to its handling of global affairs: the US is more willing to defend its interests through the application of pressure and the use of power, rather than gaining global recognition through fair competition. This behavioral pattern not only exacerbates the international community’s distrust of the US, but also makes the strategic competition between China and the US more complex and unpredictable. China must address this challenge and reshape a more stable and fair competitive environment for the world.

Before the opening of the 2024 Paris Olympics, many people were still lamenting that “the enthusiasm for this Olympics doesn’t seem high”, but who could have imagined that from the controversial opening ceremony to the ups and downs of the “live drama” of the competitions, from the maneuverings of international organizations to the grassroots actions in the internet space, and to the final intense competition on the medal table – to a certain extent, the Paris Olympics brought the world “splendor” and “inspiration” beyond the sports arena this summer.

For the Chinese, we not only saw the confidence, strength and tenacity of the new generation of Chinese youth through the Olympics, criticized the hypocrisy and backwardness of some elitists who are alienated from the masses, but also gained a clearer mind and a more definite path in the larger competition outside the sports arena through the mirror of the sports field. If anyone still believes in the so-called “gold medals don’t matter”, then I would say these are the more precious things that this Olympics has brought us beyond the gold medals

The post Olympics Killing Off Pro-US Voices in China first appeared on China Academy.

Zheng Qinwen reacted to her audience. | Source: CFP

Why?

Tennis was first invented in the French courts, and due to its high cost of participation, it has been known as a sport for the nobility.

An illustration of a game of Real Tennis being played, circa 1500. |Source: CNN

First of all, playing tennis requires a professional venue. Unlike badminton or football, you can’t just find an empty ground to play. Professional venues require correspondent maintenance, which is relatively expensive. Currently, the cost of renting a tennis court at around $14 per hour is quite common, with many charging $21 or even over $28. In contrast, badminton courts rarely exceed $14.

Secondly, professional equipment is needed. A decent, lightweight tennis racket can cost several hundred to several thousand dollars. When you add in other gear and expenses, spending over $14,000 a year is quite easy.

At present, the number of participants in tennis worldwide isn’t very high. As of 2021, the number of tennis enthusiasts globally (defined as those who play at least once a year) was just over 87 million. This number only accounts for about 1.5% of the world’s population, and the participation rate is not high because the cost is relatively high. With few participants and a limited potential market, practitioners have to increase the unit price to make money, which further hinders people’s participation.

The statement ‘tennis is a sport for the nobility’ may not be entirely accurate, but it is a fact that the overall cost of playing tennis is higher than that of most other sports. On a national level, this is reflected in the fact that tennis is most developed in the United States. While other countries may have one or two top players, the U.S. has a bunch. In terms of the number of professional tennis players, the U.S. accounts for 10% of the world’s total, making it the country with the highest proportion.

Supporting the large number of tennis players in the U.S. is the country’s economic level, which allows more people to afford the sport. In 2021, there were 25 million tennis enthusiasts in the U.S., the highest number in the world.

Top seven countries in the world in terms of number of tennis players in 2021 |Source: ITF Global Tennis Report 2021

Beyond the United States, there’s also Europe, which is similarly developed. In the past, when watching tennis matches, I noticed that there were indeed many European tennis players, such as Henin, Hingis, Sharapova, Djokovic, Nadal, and so on. Later, I found out that European tennis professionals account for 60% of the world’s total.

In other words, the number of professional tennis players in the U.S. and Europe (including Russia and Belarus) combined accounts for 70% of the world’s total.

As for the professional tennis players coming from developing countries, their families are relatively well-off. For example, Argentina’s Juan Martín del Potro comes from a middle-class family, with his father being a veterinarian and his mother a teacher. India’s Sania Mirza, who has won six Grand Slam doubles titles, has a father who was a sports journalist and later became a magazine publisher with various other businesses. While not as wealthy as billionaires like Ambani or Adani, her family is still considered affluent.

Most tennis players come from developed economies, and those from developing economies typically start from a middle-income background. This clearly illustrates that the overall cost of playing tennis is high. Without financial support, it’s challenging to pursue the sport.

When it comes to Zheng Qinwen, she worked with exceptional coaches such as Carlos Rodriguez (Henin’s coach), Pere Riba (a former professional tennis player with the highest world ranking of 65), and some Chinese tennis athletes in her early years of training. Renowned and professional coaches are expensive. Reports indicate that during her youth, Zheng Qinwen’s annual training expenses alone exceeded $70,000. This is just the direct cost; there are also numerous indirect expenses such as nutrition. Her father, Zheng Jianping, was a former track and field athlete who later went into business and had a good financial situation. Even so, they once considered selling their house, highlighting the immense financial pressure.

Zheng Jianping, Zheng Qinwen’ s father |Photo: Xinhua News Agency

In the past, when China’s economy was underdeveloped, few could afford to play tennis, and the country relied on a national sports system to cultivate players like Li Na. It wasn’t until the economy improved and more people could afford the sport that players like Zheng Qinwen emerged. She is just the beginning; there will be more players like her in the future.

Take the number of tennis participants as an example. In 2021, the number of enthusiasts in China reached 19.92 million, second only to the United States.

Sports, like the economy, rely on the principle of scale. When the scale is large and more people participate, competition drives improvement. While having more people doesn’t necessarily guarantee progress, a lack of participants certainly hinders it. This is a fundamental rule.

I’ve said countless times that the lack of progress in Chinese football stems from the fact that too few people play the sport. There’s no competition, and without the drive to improve, players can slack off without consequence. Factors like ethnicity and corruption are secondary. Argentina’s football association has been notoriously corrupt, almost like a mafia, yet that hasn’t stopped them from winning world championships. If the number of people involved in Chinese football remains insufficient, even ten rounds of anti-corruption efforts on the football association will be meaningless.

Tennis in China has clearly become highly competitive. Thanks to a large grassroots base, by 2022, China had 4,362 professional tennis players. Considering that the total number of active professional tennis players worldwide is just over 10,000, China accounts for 40% of the total global number. Even if the quality of training isn’t perfect, with so many professionals competing with each other, some top players will inevitably emerge. Even if Chinese football players made up only 4% of the world’s total, qualifying for the World Cup wouldn’t be out of the question.

In addition, the cost of Zheng Qinwen’s training model is not entirely borne by the family, but a standard “mixed model”. In other words, other than the part borne by the family, the state also provided some subsidies and resources. Her earliest team was built by the Wuhan Sports Bureau.

China’s sports model has long relied on the ‘nationwide system,’ where the state provides funding to cover athletes’ living expenses, allowing them to focus solely on training and competition. However, this approach has its drawbacks. Due to limited state funding, only a select few athletes receive resources, leading to a situation where only the top talents are supported, but there aren’t enough resources for the promotion of the sport. Most ordinary trainees are left behind. If the top athletes retire and no one is ready to step up, it can lead to a gap in talent cultivation.

At the same time, the ‘nationwide system’ often involves long-term centralized training, which is difficult for the younger generation with strong individuality to accept. Moreover, since the state invests heavily in athletes and covers all their needs, athletes are required to turn over most of their earnings as a form of exchange, inevitably leading to serious conflicts of interest.

Another major drawback of the system is its high-stakes nature. Most resources are concentrated on a few individuals, with the expectation that they will win gold and silver. However, the problem is, what if they don’t achieve good results? After all, sports competitions are unpredictable, and winning or losing can often seem like a matter of luck. The unexpected is a constant on the field.

The difference between the ‘mixed model’ and the ‘nationwide system’ is that while the state still provides funding and resources, these are no longer concentrated on a single athlete. Instead, resources are distributed as evenly as possible, so everyone receives some support. For example, not only did Zheng Qinwen receive help in assembling a coaching team, but many other young tennis players also received similar support.

There’s no longer an emphasis on selecting only the top talents, nor are athletes required to hand over their earnings. Instead, the focus is on providing basic resources as evenly as possible, while athletes are responsible for meeting their advanced needs themselves. This includes finding more specialized coaches, seeking out competition opportunities, and so on. Success then depends largely on their own efforts and luck. This is known as the ‘mixed model.

In a word, as China’s economy has developed and resources have increased, more people are able to afford tennis, so there’s no need to focus solely on the top talents. It’s entirely possible to cast a wider net.
The benefits of the ‘mixed model’ are evident. Athletes bear their own costs, avoiding conflicts of interest; there is no need for long-term, closed training camps, which suit the individuality of the younger generation. With a sufficiently large base, some talentss will inevitably stand out.

If that’s the case, why not fully marketize and completely say goodbye to the nationwide system? In fact, the mixed model’ is the most suitable for China’s current reality.

Among professional tennis athletes, fewer than 4,000 players can earn prize money. Sixty percent of them receive nothing at all, as it requires reaching a certain ranking to win any. Most players either get eliminated in the first round or struggle to make it to the main draw. Even among those who do earn prize money, the situation is not promising. Fewer than 1,000 players in the entire professional tennis world break even, meaning over 90% of players are operating at a loss. The problem remains that expenses are too high.

Top tennis athlete requires a team for support. A complete team typically includes a fitness trainer, doctor, nutritionist, coach, sparring partner, and public relations manager. All of these expenses are borne by the player, which creates immense pressure. Zheng Qinwen, for example, spends around $420,000 annually just to compete in Europe. To achieve good results, a top-tier team is essential, and these costs cannot be avoided.

Tennis is a highly commercialized sport, with players in the four Grand Slam tournaments attracting significant attention each year. The prize money from various events and the corresponding commercial sponsorships are also quite substantial. Even so, breaking even remains out of reach for most tennis players. So, what about sports that are less commercialized and offer lower earnings than tennis? Their situation is only more difficult.

In 2023, Zheng Qinwen’s income reached $7.2 million, with over $1 million coming from prize money and the rest from endorsements and sponsorships. She ranked 15th on the ‘World’s Highest-Paid Female Athletes’ list that year. However, she is ultimately an exception. For the vast majority of Chinese athletes, even earning a fraction of $7.2 million is extremely difficult. Without state support and resources, it would be hard to sustain their careers. This is why the ‘mixed model’ is still necessary.

Chagee, a famous Chinese tea-drink brand, signed a partnership with Zheng Qinwen as early as April 26th this year. After she won the Olympics gold medal, the brand ran celebratory ads on outdoor billboards across China. |Photo: Chagee’s Weibo

In recent years, the biggest debate in Chinese sports has been about which path to take: full marketization or a return to the nationwide system. The reverse is unlikely—not only because of the issue of performance but also because the younger generation can no longer tolerate long-term, closed training camps, which are out of time. However, due to fluctuations in performance during Chinese sport’s transition, some people believe that everything would improve if we returned to the old system.

Once a transition begins, there’s no turning back. However, figuring out how to move forward and where the path leads is a challenge. The ‘mixed model’ offers valuable insight, showing that the two modes can be made compatible through reform. It’s entirely feasible to walk on both legs: letting the market handle what belongs to the market, and allowing the nationwide system to manage what it does best. It’s like the economic system—if everything were state-owned, there would be no vitality; if everything were privately owned, it would be too harsh and lack a safety guarantee. The best approach is to have both, complementing each other.

Since it’s possible to walk on both legs, there’s no need to insist on just one path.

The post What Zheng Qinwen’s Victory Reveals About China’s Economy? first appeared on China Academy.

To some extent, since ancient Greek times, such large-scale competitive sports were originally intended as military exercises, even as substitutes for military confrontations, allowing participants to compete in non-lethal ways.

In the era of cold weapons, at the classical Olympic Games, city-states sent their best warriors to compete in events like the javelin throw, showcasing who could throw the furthest. The message conveyed during wartime was very clear: throwing the javelin far meant strong combat ability. Since the advent of the modern era with hot weapons, we no longer frequently see such contests of martial arts skills and combat techniques. Instead, confrontations are now conducted by pulling the trigger.

In modern warfare, with missiles, it only takes pressing a button to eliminate the enemy from thousands of miles away. There’s a famous scene in the American movie Starship Troopers where a character says, “In space warfare, you just press a button. Why are you still teaching me to throw a knife?” The instructor then asks him to place his hand next to the button and tells everyone to watch closely. He then throws a knife, pinning the character’s hand to the control panel. The instructor explains, “Our job is to pin his hand with the knife before he can press the button.”

Therefore, since ancient times, the Olympics have been a form of non-violent confrontation between nations in the West. The 1936 Olympic Games were held in Berlin at a time when the Nazis had already come to power in Germany, leading to the famous incident involving Jesse Owens. Adolf Hitler was promoting his notorious racial superiority theory. He suggested that the explosiveness, endurance, and stamina of German athletes conveyed through sports competitions were due to the superior genes of the Aryan race. As a result, when the African American athlete Jesse Owens won gold and set records, Hitler refused to shake his hand.

Jesse Owens set a world record of 10.2 seconds on June 20, 1936. | Photo: AP

During the Cold War era, the Olympics became a battlefield between the United States and the Soviet Union. The 2019 Polish film “The Coldest Game” depicts the rivalry between the US and the USSR in the realm of chess. In the movie, President Reagan calls the game venue directly from the White House, asking if they had won. When informed that the Soviet player was leading, the scene cuts to Moscow, where Brezhnev is shown opening his long-cherished whiskey in anticipation of celebrating a Soviet victory. This illustrates that competitive sports naturally carry an undertone of great power rivalry.

A scene from The Coldest Game, with American and Soviet players playing against each other. | Picture: MUBI

Of course, after the Cold War ended, peace and development became the main themes of the era, leading to an emphasis on comfort and relaxation. However, in my view, true relaxation and comfort come only after winning gold medals, securing victories, and achieving good rankings. Especially in the context of the Olympics, blindly promoting self-indulgence and a lie-flat attitude without considering specific competitions is tantamount to giving up.

China also places great importance on the Olympics. In the mindset of the Chinese, the Olympics is supposed to be a fair competition in the international arena, where everyone competes based on a set of established rules and wins through their abilities. Of course, “abilities” refer to those within the allowed scope of the rules and align with the common understanding of competitive sports. Using performance-enhancing drugs, relying on biased judgments by referees, or employing underhanded tactics do not count.

Regarding this Paris Olympics, how should we understand victory and defeat? Certainly, we can applaud human achievements in breaking physical limits in a pure and idealistic way. However, it is also important to clarify which victories and defeats fall under the scope of great power strategic competition, and which events might involve external influences or underhanded tactics. Otherwise, China will inevitably have to compromise and accept unfavorable outcomes passively again and again.

There are several aspects of this year’s Olympics that everyone should pay close attention to.

The first aspect is the weaponization of doping tests. The goal is not to catch doping but to use the testing process to disrupt the training of Chinese athletes and thwart them from performing well. This is then supported by biased media and internet trolls to stigmatize China.

Chinese swimmer Zhang Yufei was interviewed before the competition regarding the doping tests, and she called on the public not to view Chinese swimming with prejudice. |Photo: Xinhua News Agency

Shortly before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, the Chinese swimming team had just arrived in Paris and needed to acclimate to the venue, train, and adjust their physical and psychological conditions for competition. However, each swimmer was subjected to an average of 5-7 urine tests per day, with intervals of a few hours between tests. This routine continued daily, resulting in 200 tests over 10 days, averaging 20 tests per day.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) mandates that in high-risk areas, 75% of athletes should undergo frequent testing, generally three times a day. However, the frequency of testing for Chinese athletes far exceeds this, with conservative estimates being more than double the normal requirement. Additionally, as many as 95% of Chinese athletes were tested.

In such circumstances, the so-called fairness is nothing but bullshit.

American athletes might be tested only three times throughout the entire game, while Chinese athletes face 5-7 tests in a single day. Furthermore, the testing agencies are different: American athletes can be tested by their national anti-doping agency, while Chinese athletes cannot. The New York Times has been propagandizing on the side, repeatedly implying that the food additives tested positve among Chinese athletes are problematic, even though WADA has found no abnormality.

In stark contrast, when American athletes test positive for banned substances that are not on the exemption list, they can often explain it away with common medical conditions such as asthma, ADHD, or congenital heart disease. The punitive mechanism works in such a way that, in the first stage, they are found to be in violation, but in the second stage, the final ruling often exempts them due to claims of food contamination.

This is what we call unfairness. Inside the arena, the weaponized doping testing mechanism disrupts the Chinese team’s training and preparation. Outside the arena, there is overwhelming stigmatization.

Next comes the bullying among athletes. French swimming champion Léon Marchand ignored Chinese coach Zhu Zhigen and refused to shake hands. It was only after the situation escalated and online public opinion overwhelmingly criticized him that Marchand personally visited the Chinese delegation to apologize.

Source: CCTV

In contrast, after a race, Chinese swimmer Wang Shun immediately shook hands with French President Emmanuel Macron, who was watching from the sidelines.

Source: CCTV

Chinese swimmer Pan Zhanle won the gold medal in the 100m freestyle and broke the world record. After the race, Australian coach Brett Hawke had a meltdown, posting a video on Instagram claiming that Pan’s performance was suspicious and insinuating that he must have been doping. However, he later deleted the posts and videos.

Source: The Daily Telegraph

Such Western athletes exhibit passive-aggressive behavior by refusing to shake hands with their Chinese counterparts and intentionally stepping aside, displaying a complete lack of courtesy. Certain coaches engage in bullying Chinese athletes using tactics laced with racial stereotypes and deep-seated racial prejudice. The underlying sentiment seems to be: “This prestigious competition is meant for superior Caucasians to win. How could you inferior Asians possibly win?! There’s no way you could be faster than me, even if I were on drugs! You must be doping too!”

Based on these behaviors, it seems that racial superiority theories did not completely disappear with the downfall of Nazi Germany.

These actions are unfair, contradict the spirit of the Olympics, and violate fundamental sports ethics and morals. Such behaviors were distorted and pathological outcomes resulting from a fearful reaction from the West to China’s rise, compounded by longstanding racism and condescending arrogance towards non-Western countries and people of color.

These actions pollute and desecrate the spirit of the Olympics and the broader sportsmanship for all humanity. This desecration is more severe than the offense to Christianity caused by the display of LGBT values and the lavish Dionysian revelry at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony.

The United States, which frequently emphasizes so-called rules, lacks the courage to confront its decline. Facing political decay and deep social polarization, it is unable to effectively address internal issues. Instead, it projects its frustrations onto imagined adversaries, resorting to base and humiliating tactics in sports competitions, and engaging in severe defamation, insults, and smear campaigns against Chinese athletes to vent its sense of defeat and powerlessness.

Fortunately, China’s Generation Z athletes have withstood the pressure, not only fighting back with words but also winning numerous gold medals and breaking several world records, countering these discriminatory and obstructive actions with actual achievements. Otherwise, Western critics would launch a cognitive war to undermine the value of all of China’s achievements.

Therefore, China needs to take several actions. On one hand, athletes must endure the insults and burdens, striving to showcase their top-notch abilities. On the other hand, at the national level, efforts must be made to alleviate the pressure on athletes and to prevent doping tests that aim to interfere with their training and preparations.

China must safeguard its legitimate rights and cannot passively accept the malicious abuse of international rules. Chinese media need to make their voices heard clearly and assertively. This message should be directed at the WADA and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to ensure their awareness of China’s discontent.

The IOC and the WADA are not entities with supra-sovereign authority, rather, they are NGOs that rely on commercial activities for their existence, particularly for the IOC. If it loses a significant market like China would severely impact its revenue and overall value.

While China is not advocating for a boycott of the Olympics, but to assert itself and negotiate with these organizations. After all, athletes from non-Western countries are all likely to become targets of weaponized doping testing at any moment—just as Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt did in the past.

The distortion of sports rules by the U.S. is already a public nuisance that will not cease on its own. Tolerating such behavior only encourages further escalation, with U.S. legislators already beginning to pressure the WADA. Surely, conscientious individuals worldwide will not tolerate America’s brutal bullying of an international organization. A nation needs to step forward and rally global opposition against such behaviors.

If the U.S. persists in such bullying behavior, it seriously threatens the Olympic spirit. Unless it corrects its mistakes and adopts a proper attitude, it should no longer remain a member of the international Olympic community. The world should unite to expel the bad guy.

China now has the confidence to view the West with an equal attitude, approaching and appreciating these competitions with both confidence and rationality, while keenly identifying any unfairness. The simple aspiration of the Chinese people is the pursuit of a better life. And what is at the core of a better life? It is fairness, fairness, and more fairness.

Today, China, when confronted with these unfair actions and the abuse of anti-doping mechanisms, should not merely resort to the passive resistance of venting emotions or boycotting events. Instead, China should propose its own solutions.

The relevant regulations and rules need to be further improved. To emphasize fairness, it should be completely open and transparent. Which athletes from which countries have applied for drug exemptions, what proportion does this account for in the national team of that country, and how many of those with drug exemptions have won medals? Among those who ranked in the top three, did anyone apply for a drug exemption? Everyone can calculate by themselves.

Of course, to protect athletes’ privacy, there is no need to mention the type of drug or the specific disease, but an identifiable label is required. For instance, place an easily recognizable purple label to mark all the “purple-faced” people among the award-winning athletes.

Many American swimmers’ faces turned purple when the races finished, which aroused widespread curiosity and doubts among netizens on social media. | Source: CCTV

It might not be possible to completely end these privileges, but at the very least, those who benefit from them should be clearly identified. The International Anti-Doping Agency is under significant pressure, but is it too much to ask to mark out these privileges? For the IOC, which seeks to highlight its independence, and for WADA, which aims to emphasize its fairness, as well as for everyone calling for a cleaner, fairer, and more just international sports environment, shouldn’t this be a direction for collective effort?

The WADA is under great pressure from the US. So it might not be possible to completely cancel the privileges, but at the very least, those who are privileged should be clearly identified. Isn’t this supposed to be the common direction of efforts for the IOC which wants to highlight its independence, for the WADA which wants to highlight its fairness, and for all those who call for a cleaner, fairer, and more just international sports environment?

If not feasible this time, how about starting from the next Olympic Games? If it’s not practical next time either, what about a roadmap to give everyone something to look forward to? Is that okay? Improving the relevant rules and regulations as soon as possible is the greatest respect for the Olympic spirit.

Everyone should make their best efforts to create a fairer, more just, and cleaner Olympic environment. In this environment, we can all strive towards the shared values of humanity—higher, faster, stronger, and more united. If you agree that everyone should push for this within their capacity and collectively build a better Olympics with our own hands, it will make the games more enjoyable for all. We can truly celebrate athletes who demonstrate their skills and embody the pure spirit of sports in the pursuit of self-improvement, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or color. I believe this is a goal worth striving for together.

The post Time to Probe into US Swimmers’ Doping Dispute first appeared on China Academy.