STORY: From villages to world: China's Village Super League inspires passion for football
SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage
DATELINE: Jan. 10, 2025
LENGTH: 00:02:50
LOCATION: RONGJIANG, China
CATEGORY: SPORTS/CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the new season of the Village Super League
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): CHRISTOPHE HISQUIN, French singer and songwriter
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): LI SHA, Head of Cultural Center of Rongjiang
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): PAN CHENG, Tourist
5. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): DAVID GEARY, Teacher, School of Physical Education, Guizhou University

STORYLINE:

The new season of the Village Super League (VSL), also known as Cun Chao in China, kicked off on Jan. 4 in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province.

Its unique blend of soccer and local ethnic culture has been attracting fans from across the globe.

The new season, the third edition of its kind, consists of preliminaries and finals. Organizers say more than 3,000 football lovers from 108 village teams are competing for the championship.

But it is also an international event.

Initiated in 2023, the Guizhou Village Super League has attracted more than 1,100 football enthusiasts from over 50 countries and regions, including France, Liberia and the United States, to take part in friendly matches in Rongjiang.

French singer Christophe Hisquin, visited Guizhou seven times and performed a French song at the opening ceremony of the event.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): CHRISTOPHE HISQUIN, French singer and songwriter
"I really enjoy the people here. It's great atmosphere. Here in China, in Guizhou, it's football, but it's also culture. It's the culture and football mixed together. A lot of traditions, I think it's great. You can learn a lot about China with football here."

For many locals in Rongjiang, the biggest impression in 2024 was the increasing number of foreign visitors.

Beyond the football matches, the Village Super League boasts diversified cultural performances.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): LI SHA, Head of Cultural Center of Rongjiang
"Since May 2023, we have held more than 400 cultural performances, with a total of more than 600 ethnic shows."

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): PAN CHENG, Tourist
"I have known 'Cun Chao' for a long time and wanted to come here. I feel excited to feel the vibe and blend into this environment."

David Geary is a post-90s football lover from Britain and a football teacher at Guizhou University. He was impressed by the tremendous development of the VSL over the years.

SOUNDBITE 4 (English): DAVID GEARY, Teacher, School of Physical Education, Guizhou University
"So I have a history here in Rongjiang, and I grew up in Liubaitang Village.
It's not just the football that attracts people, but also the minority cultures, the different aspects of the culture like the clothing, the singing, dancing. All those things attract people.
Football is a universal language. So anybody who plays football will enjoy the Village Super League. And anybody who enjoys the Village Super League will probably enjoy football anywhere else, especially those that play. And I think football is something that can bring many people together. The Village Super League is special because it's a place to showcase culture, to showcase the culture of the Chinese culture and the minority culture. And that's what makes the Village Super League special, I think."

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