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2024 “Ocean Cup” China Pingtan International Cycling Open scene (data map)
“Pingtan is a very suitable place for drift events. I have made many friends here, and I hope to come here often to compete.” Recently, Dai Xiaoxiang of the BC RACING team from Taiwan said after the 2024 Strait Drift Championship.
16 elite riders from both sides of the Taiwan Strait gathered on Arashi Island to have in-depth exchanges while participating in the event. Lin Wanlong, head of the market operations department of the Experimental Zone Cultural Tourism Development Group Co., Ltd., said that the successful holding of the 2024 Strait Drift Championship will further promote exchanges and exchanges between compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
This is just a microcosm of how Pingtan uses competition as a medium to promote cross-strait integration and development.
Pingtan Cross-Strait Employee Cycling Race, 2024 12th “Xibai Cup” Cross-Strait (Pingtan) Taekwondo Exchange Competition, 2024 “Kilin Cup” Cross-Strait (Pingtan) Youth Baseball Championship, 2024 Cross-Strait Baseball Exchange Competition , Cross-Strait Student Baseball League… In recent years, Pingtan has successively held cross-Strait sports events, allowing young friends to enhance friendship and get closer to each other in the competition, and promote the high-quality development of cultural and sports undertakings in the experimental zone. “Sports +” helps integrate cross-Strait The situation is becoming more obvious.
In September this year, the 2024 “Ocean Cup” China Pingtan International Cycling Race was held. High-level club teams from Taiwan such as CYTO Team, Taiwan Qianjin Team, Bairuiteng Team, Taiwan Terry Attack Team and Hongchen Cycling Team Participate.
After learning about the holding of the 2024 “Ocean Cup” China Pingtan International Cycling Open, the members of the Hongchen Cycling Team were very excited. Team manager Wu Sumian told reporters that they have insisted on coming to Pingtan to compete in the first Pingtan Cross-Strait Employee Cycling Race. Coming to Pingtan this time is like gathering with old friends. “We are no strangers to Pingtan. It has a very charming island style. Over the years, Pingtan has developed at a rapid pace, which is amazing. This time we came to Pingtan and there were many new surprises and changes.”
This year’s event coincides with the Mid-Autumn Festival. During this time, riders from both sides of the Taiwan Strait spent the traditional festival in Pingtan, which felt warm and cordial. “I’m so excited to come to Lan to compete during the Mid-Autumn Festival and celebrate the festival with our mainland compatriots. We spent an unforgettable Mid-Autumn Festival in Pingtan,” said the members of the Hongchen Cycling Team.
The “Opinions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council on Supporting Fujian in Exploring a New Road for Cross-Strait Integrated Development and Building a Cross-Strait Integrated Development Demonstration Zone” states that “Support primary and secondary schools in Fujian and Taiwan to strengthen inter-school exchanges and carry out cooperation in youth special sports such as baseball and softball.” In recent years, Pingtan has continued to deepen Lantai sports exchanges and cooperation, continued to focus on the goal of becoming a famous city for baseball and softball events, and innovatively launched a series of colorful exchange activities to effectively promote the integrated development of cross-strait baseball and softball sports.
In August this year, the 2024 Cross-Strait Baseball Exchange Tournament was held in Lan, attracting eight elite teams from both sides of the Taiwan Strait to participate. In addition to competitive matches, a number of cultural and technical exchange activities were held during the event. Players and coaches from both sides shared training experiences and game insights to enhance mutual understanding and friendship.
Nowadays, there are exciting cross-Strait baseball games for different age groups. The “circles of friends” of teenagers on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are getting bigger and bigger. The sports industry in Fujian and Taiwan is developing rapidly. Many professional athletes, coaches and experts from Taiwan have come to the mainland to take root. Pingtan shows off his talents.
Li Bifeng, president of the Pingtan Baseball and Softball Association, said that since 2018, Pingtan has introduced a total of 10 Taiwanese coaches, and under their leadership, the Pingtan baseball and softball team has won many honors in the country. Currently, there are 36 baseball and softball teams in primary and secondary schools in the district, including 20 elementary school teams, 7 junior high school teams, 1 high school team, 3 college teams, and 5 U-level teams. “This is a process from scratch. We hope to build a high-level cross-strait baseball event platform in Pingtan and continue to promote the integrated development of cross-strait baseball.”
The successful holding of each event is a vivid portrayal of Lantai sports exchange and integration. Athletes from both sides of the Taiwan Strait compete on the same field, learn from each other’s strengths, communicate off the field, enhance understanding, and build emotional identity together. Chen Min, deputy director of the Science and Technology Department of the Sports Department of the Tourism, Culture and Sports Bureau of the Experimental Zone, said: “We hope that through such activities, we can improve the competitive level of both sides and promote the development of cross-strait sports. We also hope that through the common language of sports, we can promote exchanges between compatriots on both sides of the strait. Communicate and enhance mutual understanding and spiritual harmony.”
