STORY: Rural sports create viral and real-life sensation in China
DATELINE: June 13, 2023
LENGTH: 00:03:04
LOCATION: GUIYANG, China
CATEGORY: SPORTS/SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of village football competitions
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): LI YUJIE, Football player from Yuezhai Village
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): YANG ZHENGQIAN, Football player from Pingdi Village
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): SHI SHIHUA, Captain of the football team of Chejiang Second Village

STORYLINE:

A village football tournament in China has recently captured the attention of many, with its festive atmosphere and spectacular goal-scoring performances.

Organized and played by locals, the amateur football tournament held in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province has been dubbed "Cun Chao" by Chinese netizens, which translates to "Village Super League."

From May to July, 20 teams from Rongjiang County are participating in the "Cun Chao" tournament on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, with the final scheduled for July 29.

The players in this village tournament come from diverse backgrounds, but they have the same passion for football.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): LI YUJIE, University student and football player
"I am Li Yujie, a football player from Yuezhai Village and also a university student. I heard about the football games and came here to play for my village."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): YANG ZHENGQIAN, Water company worker and football player
"I work at a water company in the neighboring Congjiang County. I love our 'Cun Chao,' no matter how tough or tiring it can be. Traveling from Rongjiang County, where the tournament is held, to my workplace would take me about one and a half hours to two hours.
'Cun Chao' gives us a stage to show our talents. We would like to show our football skills to people around the country. I feel happy about that, so I won't feel tired. It allows us to bring out the extraordinary aspects of our ordinary daily lives."

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): SHI SHIHUA, Leader of a local football team
"Our players are construction workers, truck drivers, teachers, cooks, and meat vendors. We come from all walks of life. We are aiming at the championship in this tournament. Cheer up, 'Cun Chao.' I am waiting for you in Rongjiang. Let's enjoy the game together!"

With free admission, thousands of spectators flock to the county's stadium for every match. The stands are often filled to capacity.

The tournament is also very popular online. On the Chinese social media platform Weibo, the hashtags and topics related to "Cun Chao" have garnered over 200 million views, and several videos of "Cun Chao" have received millions of likes on the short video platform Douyin.

"Cun Chao" is just the latest rural sports phenomenon that has swept China.

A village basketball tournament, also in Guizhou Province, has made a significant impact online and offline and is known as "CunBA" among netizens.

In recent years, governments at all levels have increased efforts to promote development in rural China, expanding and improving local sports venues and exercise facilities.

The upgrade of sports facilities has laid a solid foundation for events like "CunBA" and "Cun Chao," encouraging more people in the countryside to engage in physical activities.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Guiyang, China.
(XHTV)