STORY: People embrace traditional sports of ethnic minorities in China's Jilin
SHOOTING TIME: May 28, 2024
DATELINE: May 30, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:36
LOCATION: BAISHAN, China
CATEGORY: SPORTS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the opening ceremony of the eighth Traditional Sports Games of Ethnic Minorities of Jilin Province
2. various of the pearl ball competition
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): YUAN CHENXU, Player of Yanbian pearl ball team
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): CUI YONGJIE, Coach of Yanbian pearl ball team
5. various of the traditional bow archery competition
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): QU HAIJUN, Coach of Baishan traditional bow archery team
7. various of the games

STORYLINE:

The eighth Traditional Sports Games of Ethnic Minorities of Jilin Province kicked off on Tuesday in Baishan City, northeast China's Jilin Province.

The Games have attracted over 1,100 athletes and coaches across the province. 

Competitors are showcasing their skills and passion in 14 traditional sports.
   
In the pearl ball court, Yuan Chenxu, who defended the "blockade zone," received enthusiastic applause from the audience for his stellar performance.

The 20-year-old player from the Yanbian team began practicing pearl ball just two years ago.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): YUAN CHENXU, Player of Yanbian pearl ball team
"It's my first time participating in a big event like this. I feel excited and thrilled at the same time."

Cui Yongjie, coach of the Yanbian pearl ball team, explained that pearl ball is a traditional sport of China's Manchu ethnic group, inspired by the folk activity of picking pearls.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): CUI YONGJIE, Coach of Yanbian pearl ball team
"The pear ball sport originated from the folk activity, enabling the labor of picking pearls to evolve into a kind of sport. Our team members are mainly from the Korean ethnic group. There are also members from the Han, the Manchu, and the Hui ethnic groups, among others. That helps promote the unity of people from different ethnic groups."

At the traditional bow archery venue, contestants aimed at targets 145 meters away.

This event was included in the official competition for the first time. Although they are not world-level archers, all the competitors enjoyed themselves in the game.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): QU HAIJUN, Coach of Baishan traditional bow archery team
"It's our first time engaging in this sport. There are many amateurs. There were also many spectators during our training."

Qu added that Baishan has formed a team of 10 people from various walks of life and ethnic groups in a bid to promote this sport.
   
Official data show that Jilin has an ethnic minority population of over two million, accounting for about 8.67 percent of the total population.

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