File photo taken on Nov. 22, 2021 shows Lin Gaoyuan (1st L, front) of China, Lily Zhang (2nd L, front) of the United States competing with Wang Manyu (2nd R, front) of China and Kanak Jha (1st R, front) of the United States during a joint training session of two pairs formed of both American and Chinese players entering the mixed doubles competition at the 2021 World Table Tennis Championships in Houston, the United States. The 50th anniversary of "Ping-Pong Diplomacy" was commemorated in Beijing on April 24. Over 400 people from China and the United States, including many historical witnesses, attended this event. Star players from the two nations formed mixed doubles teams for the world table tennis championship in Houston in November to mark the 50th anniversary of Ping-Pong Diplomacy. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling)
BEIJING, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Here is Xinhua News Agency's selection of the 10 most significant pieces of Chinese sports news in 2021, in chronological order:
- Chinese President Xi Jinping inspected the preparatory work for the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing and co-host city Zhangjiakou from January 18 to 20, and presided over a meeting on the Beijing 2022 preparations. Under the guidance of President Xi, Games preparations went smoothly during the year - the official motto and medal design were unveiled and testing programs were held as scheduled. The Olympic flame for the 2022 Games was ignited in Ancient Olympia, Greece in October.
- On February 28, defending Chinese Super League champion Jiangsu Suning dissolved before the new season started. Several other football clubs also disbanded or withdrew from China's professional leagues due to financial problems. China's men's national team is on the brink of elimination from the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar following a poor run in the Asian Zone qualifiers.
However, football development in China has not been halted by the difficulties. Preparations for the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup progressed smoothly with the emblem and theme of the tournament unveiled. Professional football clubs removed reference to sponsors or investors in their names under the reform by the Chinese Football Association (CFA).
- The 50th anniversary of "Ping-Pong Diplomacy" was commemorated in Beijing on April 24. Over 400 people from China and the United States, including many historical witnesses, attended this event. Star players from the two nations formed mixed doubles teams for the world table tennis championship in Houston in November to mark the 50th anniversary of Ping-Pong Diplomacy.
- Guangdong Southern Tigers claimed the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) championship for a record 11th time after beating the Liaoning Flying Leopards in Game 3 of the 2020-21 season CBA finals on May 1.
- On May 28, the General Administration of Sports of China (GAS) issued a notice urging running event organizers to strengthen safety management. Organizers are obliged to report the date, events and scale of the road race to the provincial authorities and to the Chinese Athletics Association.
- Chinese athletes won 38 gold, 32 silver and 18 bronze medals at the Tokyo Olympic Games held between July 23 and August 8, equalling the country's record of the most gold medals won at an overseas Olympic Games.
At the Tokyo Paralympic Games from August 24 to September 5, China won a total of 207 medals - 96 gold, 60 silver and 51 bronze, to finish atop the gold and overall medal tally for five Games in a row.
- In a bid to better meet the people's fitness and health needs, push forward sports reforms and turn China into a sporting powerhouse, a national fitness plan for 2021-2025 was issued by China's State Council in April, followed by the release of the 14th Five-Year Plan for Sports Development in October.
- The 14th National Games was held in northwest China's Shaanxi Province from September 15 to 27. Over 12,000 athletes competed in 35 sports and over 10,000 amateur participants took part in 19 sports at the event under COVID-19 countermeasures. The 11th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 8th National Special Olympic Games were also held in Shaanxi between October 22 and 29.
- A draft revision to China's Law on Physical Culture and Sports was presented for review at the 31st session of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, on October 19. The revision aims to address pressing issues in sports development and provide legal ground for sports reforms in China. August 8, which is currently China's National Fitness Day, was also proposed as National Sport Day.
Chinese driver Zhou Guanyu will race for Alfa Romeo in the 2022 Formula 1 season, the Swiss-based team announced on November 16. In doing so, Zhou will become the first driver from China to race in the Formula 1 world championship. Enditem
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File photo taken on June 7, 2021 shows Jin Jingdao (R) of China competing with Mark Hartmann of the Philippines during a Group A match between China and the Philippines at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Preliminary Joint Qualification in Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates. On February 28, defending Chinese Super League champion Jiangsu Suning dissolved before the new season started. Several other football clubs also disbanded or withdrew from China's professional leagues due to financial problems. China's men's national team is on the brink of elimination from the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar following a poor run in the Asian Zone qualifiers.
However, football development in China has not been halted by the difficulties. Preparations for the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup progressed smoothly with the emblem and theme of the tournament unveiled. Professional football clubs removed reference to sponsors or investors in their names under the reform by the Chinese Football Association (CFA). (Xinhua)
File aerial photo taken on June 26, 2021 shows runners at the Qionghai wetland park in Xichang City, southwest China's Sichuan Province. On May 28, the General Administration of Sports of China (GAS) issued a notice urging running event organizers to strengthen safety management. Organizers are obliged to report the date, events and scale of the road race to the provincial authorities and to the Chinese Athletics Association. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan)
File photo taken on May 1, 2021 shows the team members of Guangdong Southern Tigers celebrating with the CBA finals trophy during the awarding ceremony after the third game of the final round between Guangdong Southern Tigers and Liaoning Flying Leopards at the 2020-2021 Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Zhuji, east China's Zhejiang Province. Guangdong Southern Tigers claimed the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) championship for a record 11th time after beating the Liaoning Flying Leopards in Game 3 of the 2020-21 season CBA finals on May 1. (Xinhua/Sha Dati)
File photo taken on Aug. 1, 2021 shows Su Bingtian of China competing during the men's 100m semifinal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, in Tokyo, Japan. Chinese athletes won 38 gold, 32 silver and 18 bronze medals at the Tokyo Olympic Games held between July 23 and August 8, equalling the country's record of the most gold medals won at an overseas Olympic Games.
At the Tokyo Paralympic Games from August 24 to September 5, China won a total of 207 medals - 96 gold, 60 silver and 51 bronze, to finish atop the gold and overall medal tally for five Games in a row. (Xinhua/Wang Lili)
File photo taken on Sept. 17, 2021 shows the unveiling ceremony of the official motto for Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games "Together for a Shared Future" in Beijing, capital of China. Chinese President Xi Jinping inspected the preparatory work for the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing and co-host city Zhangjiakou from January 18 to 20, and presided over a meeting on the Beijing 2022 preparations. Under the guidance of President Xi, Games preparations went smoothly during the year - the official motto and medal design were unveiled and testing programs were held as scheduled. The Olympic flame for the 2022 Games was ignited in Ancient Olympia, Greece in October. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)
File photo taken on Sept. 25, 2021 shows players taking part in a model airplane competition in Yantai, east China's Shandong Province. A draft revision to China's Law on Physical Culture and Sports was presented for review at the 31st session of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, on October 19. The revision aims to address pressing issues in sports development and provide legal ground for sports reforms in China. August 8, which is currently China's National Fitness Day, was also proposed as National Sport Day. (Photo by Tang Ke/Xinhua)
File photo taken on Sept. 27, 2021 shows the hand-over ceremony for the flag of Chinese National Games at the closing ceremony for China's 14th National Games in Xi'an of northwest China's Shaanxi Province. The 14th National Games was held in northwest China's Shaanxi Province from September 15 to 27. Over 12,000 athletes competed in 35 sports and over 10,000 amateur participants took part in 19 sports at the event under COVID-19 countermeasures. The 11th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 8th National Special Olympic Games were also held in Shaanxi between October 22 and 29. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
File photo taken on July 2, 2021 shows Alpine driver Zhou Guanyu of China steering his car during the first free practice session for the Austrian Formula One Grand Prix in Spielberg, Austria. Chinese driver Zhou Guanyu will race for Alfa Romeo in the 2022 Formula 1 season, the Swiss-based team announced on November 16. In doing so, Zhou will become the first driver from China to race in the Formula 1 world championship. (Xinhua)
File photo taken on July 17, 2021 shows students exercising taekwondo in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. In a bid to better meet the people's fitness and health needs, push forward sports reforms and turn China into a sporting powerhouse, a national fitness plan for 2021-2025 was issued by China's State Council in April, followed by the release of the 14th Five-Year Plan for Sports Development in October. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)
