Asian Youth League Cup: Opening Ceremony Highlights

A group photo

[Reported by Zhuang Yi, a special correspondent of South American Overseas Chinese News]At noon on June 29, the 8th “Asian Youth League Cup” basketball competition hosted by the Brazilian Chinese and Overseas Chinese Youth Federation (hereinafter referred to as the “Youth League”) and the Asian Cultural Center of Sao Paulo grandly kicked off in Sao Paulo. This event attracted nearly 300 Chinese and overseas Chinese youth to actively participate, forming 24 vibrant basketball teams, and a total of 56 exciting competitions will be held in the future. Yu Peng, Consul General of China in Sao Paulo, Rong Qiang, Director of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, Li Xiaoming, Consul of Overseas Chinese Affairs, Ye Zhouyong, President of the Brazilian Chinese Association, Sun Ying, Director of the São Paulo Yazhou Cultural Center, Zhou Wei, President of the Brazilian Chinese Youth Federation, and hundreds of people from the heads of various overseas Chinese communities, sponsor representatives, players, coaches and spectators gathered at the scene to witness the launch of this grand event in the overseas Chinese community.

The opening ceremony began with the enthusiastic opening remarks of host Zhou Lingwei. She reviewed the development of the event over the past eight years and expressed her sincere thanks and warm welcome to all the guests on behalf of the organizing committee. Amid the intense music, 24 participating teams lined up to enter the court, standing full of energy. Afterwards, everyone stood solemnly and played the national anthems of China and Brazil, and the atmosphere at the scene was solemn and warm.

Zhou Wei delivered a speech first. On behalf of the organizer, he expressed his warm welcome and sincere thanks to the guests, athletes and supporters who visited the scene. Zhou Wei emphasized that the “Asian Youth League Cup” is no longer a sports event, but also an important platform and a bright cultural business card for gathering young people from overseas Chinese and showing their youthful style. Zhou Wei reiterated the Youth Association’s purpose of “making friends with the ball and promoting emotions through competitions”, hoping to build a communication bridge through basketball, promote physical and mental health, enhance team spirit, and enhance the feelings of overseas Chinese. He encouraged the players to uphold the spirit of “friendship first, competition second”, and show style, level and unity of competition, fully demonstrate the passion and style of young people in the overseas Chinese community, and wish the competition a complete success.

On behalf of the Chinese Association, Ye Zhouyong extended warm congratulations to the opening of the competition and extended high respect to the hard-working organizers, sponsors and all participants. Ye Zhouyong praised this event as a demonstration of the vigorous vitality and excellent organizational capabilities of the Youth Association. He pointed out that the spirit of struggle, collaboration, respecting rules and pursuing excellence contained in basketball is a valuable quality necessary for overseas youth to strive, grow and integrate. He hopes that this “Bridge of Basketball” can connect Chinese youth from different backgrounds and local Brazilian friends, enhance understanding, deepen friendship, and write a beautiful chapter of harmonious coexistence together.

In his speech, Yu Peng called basketball a “world-oriented sport”, “a movement belonging to youth” and “a movement of unity and progress”. He recalled the inspiring power of basketball idols and said that Chinese teenagers represent the future and direction of the overseas Chinese community. Yu Peng stressed that China-Pakistan relations are currently in the best period in history, and sports and youth exchanges are an important platform for deepening the friendly relations between the two countries. He sincerely sent a message to the young players: “I hope everyone can use basketball, youth and vitality to get out of the overseas Chinese community, to go to Brazilian society, and to a broader world.” Finally, Consul General Yu Peng extended warm congratulations to all the athletes, wishing the competition a complete success, encouraging everyone to “show style and level” and shouted passionately, “Rockets, come on!”, igniting the atmosphere on the scene.

Irma Helizangela Goes, principal of the Colégio Adventista da Liberdade School, who provides the venue for the event, warmly welcomed everyone. She said she was very happy to witness and participate in this dynamic event, and she said that sharing of experience, interaction and coexistence are crucial to enriching knowledge. She wishes everyone a good time to learn, friendship and inspiration.

Athlete representative takes oath

At the opening ceremony, athlete representative Dani and referee representative Saulo Vieira Carvalho solemnly swore, promising to abide by the spirit of sports, compete fairly and impartially. The students of the Brazilian Tangyun Art Troupe presented a wonderful opening dance performance. Subsequently, Consul General Yu Peng personally kicked off for the first game, marking the official opening of the eighth “Asian Youth League Cup” basketball competition.

Five exciting games were held on that day, namely: WiFi team vs. Star speed team, Wolf team vs. Qingtian basketball team, Lions team vs. Dexin children team, GoHome team vs. Future Star team, and Undersea Column team vs. Dexin team. In the game, the players worked hard and cooperated tacitly, winning cheers from the audience. On the next day of the game, 24 youth teams will bring wonderful duels, sweat on the basketball court, show the power of youth, and convey the friendship of overseas Chinese.

Tang Yun Art Troupe brings opening dance performance