chengdushuangliu2011

County stays active through fun and games

By Zhang Zhao and Han Guoliang (China Daily)
Updated: 2011-06-01 08:24

Chengdu's famous Pierre de Coubertin-designed Modern Pentathlon Center in Shuangliu county. Zhu Qingui / for China Daily

Located no more than 10 kilometers southwest of Chengdu, capital city of Sichuan province, Shuangliu county's economy ranks number one among all the counties in West China, and is one of the top 30 nationwide.

The sports industry has contributed greatly to the economic development of Shuangliu, as the county has hosted a number of influential sporting events.

One of the most recent events, the 2011 Modern Pentathlon World Cup, held in Chengdu's famous Pierre de Coubertin Modern Pentathlon Center, which was held on May 26-29, attracted more than 300 athletes from around 30 countries and regions.

Aside from the world-class modern pentathlon center, Shuangliu boasts many other high-end, large-scale sports facilities, including the best-equipped international tennis center in Asia, golf courses and a football park.

These stadiums and facilities have attracted many large-scale sport events in the recent years, such as the 2011 Chinese Tennis Amateur Open and International Men's Tennis Tour sponsored by the International Tennis Federation, the ATP (Association of Tennis Professional) Champions Tour Event and the 2010 Women's Asian Cup sponsored by Asian Football Confederation.

In all, eight world and national-scaled events were held in Shuangliu last year, along with more than 30 smaller-scale games.

Participants in the Combined Running and Shooting event. Zhong Jian / for China Daily

And there are more to come this year: A Latin dance contest sponsored by the International Dance Sport Federation will start in July, and the National Rope Skipping Open takes place in August, with 1,200 participants from more 30 countries and regions.

According to a government document outlining the proposed development of the region's sports industry over the next 10 years, Shuangliu plans a cluster of sports fields to host top-class events.

There are ambitious plans for a number of additional facilities, including a national badminton training base, a chess and cards contests center and a roller-skating center.

With the slogan "County of Sports", the government of Shuangliu has made short, middle and long term plans to develop the sports industry in the county.

"One high level event can greatly boost the development of many sport-related industries," said He Min, head of the county's publicity department.

He said that the many top-class sporting events in the county have become "a beautiful name card for the town and have lifted the quality of our county, making the county dynamic and fashionable".

Sports for all

Alongside the high-profile sporting events, there are also many free sports facilities for local residents.

Sport-themed parks have been built to accommodate joggers, football matches and people flying kites and squares have been made accessible so people can practice tai chi. Special roads have been created for cyclists.

Traditional sports, such as the waist drum dance and baba dance, a free-style dance that combines folk dance and broadcast exercises, are also being encouraged in residential communities and the countryside.

"People can easily exercise near their homes," said officials of the county's sports bureau. "They may do different activities, but the charm of any sport is the same."

The local authority is making great efforts to improve the sports infrastructure. In last year alone, they built nearly 200 sports facilities and cycle routes, and trained 120 coaches.

They also gave free physical examinations to 200 people aged above 60 and 400 children aged between three and six and based on this data they are making scientific sports plans for local residents.

"High-profile sporting events, infrastructure and facilities to enable different sports and popular sporting activities are the three pillars of Shuangliu's sports industry," said He Min.

The local authority plans to introduce more high-level sporting events, and develop new sport resources such as stadiums and fields over the next decade.

(China Daily 06/01/2011 page47)