The 17th Sichuan Province Traditional Ethnic Minority Sports Games opens

China News Service, Panzhihua, November 12 (Yuan Mou Zhibo) On November 12, the 17th Traditional Ethnic Minority Sports Games of Sichuan Province (hereinafter referred to as the Games) opened in Panzhihua City. 27 delegations from 21 cities (states) and 6 universities in Sichuan will compete on the same field during the 8-day competition to experience each other.

Sichuan is an important multi-ethnic area in southwest China. Various ethnic groups have formed traditional sports with rich content and distinctive characteristics in their long-term production and life. The Sichuan Traditional Ethnic Minority Sports Games have been held for more than 60 years since they were first held in 1965. They have played a positive role in displaying ethnic sports culture, promoting national fitness, and enhancing ethnic unity.

According to Zhu Ming, deputy director of the Sichuan Provincial Sports Bureau, this Games is the first national sports event in which all 21 cities (states) in Sichuan Province have organized teams to participate, and the scale of the event is the largest ever. The competition includes 12 major events and 102 minor events, including pearl ball, kickball, crossbow, top, ojia, high-foot racing, sneaker racing, ethnic wrestling, ethnic martial arts, ethnic aerobics, dragon boat, and shuttlecock. Among them, dragon boat and shuttlecock are newly added events. There are 26 performance events, divided into competitive, technical, and comprehensive categories.

The opening ceremony performance took Panzhihua's urban development history and the story of national unity as clues, integrating traditional national sports elements with song and dance performances. The opening fusion show looked back at the years of construction of the Third Front and told the story of the Long March; in the cultural and sports performances, traditional sports skills such as Yi wrestling, Qiang grabbing bouquets, and Tibetan Abjia were all on display. The power and beauty of sports, the sound and emotion of singing and dancing are intertwined on the stage to form a vivid picture of national customs.

"Traditional sports are like a thread that connects the songs in the mountains, the dances on the riverside, and today's Panzhihua. Everyone sings, dances, and laughs together, and national unity lies in the laughter." Panzhihua citizen Li Jun said after watching the opening ceremony.

During the event, Panzhihua simultaneously launched "Building a Strong Consciousness of Chinese National Community" themed tourist routes, intangible cultural heritage experiences, ethnic markets and other activities, and continued the "ticket economy" model. Audiences can use event ticket stubs to enjoy discounts on catering, accommodation, scenic spots and other tours. The "Tianfu Banquet·Taste in Flower City - 2026 Sichuan Province Food Promotes Exchanges, Exchanges and Integration Theme Cultural Activities of All Ethnic Groups" held at the same time combined sports events with food culture displays, allowing the atmosphere of national unity to extend from inside the stadium to outside the stadium.