STORY: China, Mongolia win gold at 15th Budapest Int'l Circus Festival
SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 15, 2024
DATELINE: Jan. 17, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:45
LOCATION: Budapest
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): LI CHI, President of the China National Acrobatic Troupe, honorary president of the jury of the festival
2. various of the 15th Budapest International Circus Festival
3. various of the awarding ceremony

STORYLINE:

The China National Acrobatic Troupe and Mongolia's Troupe Zola won gold prizes at the 15th Budapest International Circus Festival in Budapest, Hungary on Monday.

The Chinese troupe, also winner of the festival's "Budapest Grand Prix," earned the top prize with a bicycle act, while Troupe Zola performed teeterboard.

Chinese artists' success is due to "a huge breakthrough based on the traditional programs, and also a huge innovation based on the original technique," Li Chi, president of the China National Acrobatic Troupe and honorary president of the jury of the festival, told Xinhua after the awards ceremony.

SOUNDBITE (Chinese): LI CHI, President of the China National Acrobatic Troupe, honorary president of the jury of the festival
"I think several aspects can well explain why we brought these two performances with great confidence and won the gold prize and the highest jury grand prix. First, we had a huge breakthrough based on the traditional programs. Second, we achieved a huge innovation based on the original technique. In addition, the entire innovative choreography is completely integrated with the trending aesthetics.
Therefore, in the end, the jury's opinion unanimously gave our performances the highest scores that hadn't been seen for years.
This is the 15th Budapest International Circus Festival. The event is held every two years. In the past 30 years, the China National Acrobatic Troupe has won a total of five gold prizes in this arena."

The silver and bronze prizes went to artists from Italy, Russia, and Mongolia.

The Budapest International Circus Festival, one of the world's most prestigious circus events, has been held every two years since 1996. This year's event lasted from Jan. 10 to 15, offering over 50 performances.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Budapest.
(XHTV)