STORY: Grab a beer and watch games! China's beer festival blends with sports, cultural activities
SHOOTING TIME: Aug. 6, 2024
DATELINE: Aug. 7, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:07
LOCATION: QINGDAO, China
CATEGORY: ECONOMY/CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the 34th Qingdao International Beer Festival
2. various of the Teqball World Series in Qingdao
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): JULIEN GRONDIN, Teqball athlete
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): LASZLO VAJDA, International Teqball Federation (FITEQ) chairman
5. various of the Qingdao International Beer Festival
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): GANG-HOAN JEONG, President of the Asian Branch of the International Festivals and Events Association
7. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): RITA MARIA ROIDER, Director of China Office of the Department of Labor and Economic Development of Munich
8. various of the Qingdao International Beer Festival

STORYLINE:

East China's Qingdao is now a paradise for beer lovers as the country's largest beer festival has returned to the coastal city.

As the Paris Olympic Games is also underway, grabbing a beer and watching the Games has recently become a lifestyle for many locals and tourists alike in the city.

Hailed as Asia's Oktoberfest, the Qingdao International Beer Festival kicked off its 34th edition on July 19.

Apart from watching matches held in distant Paris, visitors and consumers can participate in and enjoy sports events right at the beer festival.

During the 24-day festival that will end on August 11, sporting events are staged almost every day.

The Teqball World Series is among them.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): JULIEN GRONDIN, Teqball athlete
"The festival is just amazing for me, and it's the biggest (beer festival) as I see in my life, for sure. I never see a big festival like this, and I'm just happy to be there and to enjoy and to visit."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): LASZLO VAJDA, International Teqball Federation (FITEQ) chairman
"I can see that this festival is very big, it's growing. I was here last year for the same event and I can see a lot of people."

Other than teqball, matches in dancing, basketball, children's roller hockey, and mobile games, among others are also taking place at the festival.

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): GANG-HOAN JEONG, President of the Asian Branch of the International Festivals and Events Association
"It is good for not just selling beers. Exchanging beer culture is very important. Through the beer (festival), Qingdao communicates with other countries, other cities with a beer culture."

SOUNDBITE 4 (English): RITA MARIA ROIDER, Director of China Office of the Department of Labor and Economic Development of Munich
"It's very great. It's very international, very open-minded. I think you have a huge potential for new kinds of, new forms of festivals, of conventions, of trade fair shows."

According to the organizer, the beer festival boasts over 2,200 beers, crafted both locally and from around the globe. Breweries from 11 countries showcase 93 unique beer varieties.

More than 2,000 activities will be held during the festival.

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