A History of the National Traditional Games of Ethnic Minorities of China (1953–2011)

Order

Year

Main Host

Members of athletics

Competitive sports

Exhibition sports

1st

1953

Tientsin (天津)

395

414

2nd

1982

Hohhot (呼和浩特)

593

3rd

1986

Ürümchi (烏魯木齊)

777

115

4th

1991

Namzning (南寧)

1,500

120

5th

1995

Kunming (昆明)

3,300

129

6th

1999

Lhasa/Beijing (拉薩/北京)

1,000

157

7th

2003

Yinchuan (銀川)

4,900

126

8th

2007

Guangzhou (廣州)

6,000

150

9th

2011

Guiyang (貴陽)

6,700

186

The Games were launched in 1953; these games have been held nine times from 1953 to 2011. List of cities that have hosted previous National Traditional Games of Ethnic Minorities of the People’s Republic of China

Note. From The 9th National Traditional Games of Ethnic Minorities of the People’s Republic of China Official Website. Retrieved October 8, 2011, from http://sports.gog.com.cn/minyh/lijhg/index.shtm

Sport plays a significant role in virtually every country of the world. Traditional ethnic sport is not only a sport, but also serves as a cultural tool of the Chinese universal ideological state apparatus. While several Western scholars have made great contributions to the study of sports and ideology,² such research still rare in China. In this chapter I describe the development of The Games from 1953 to 2011. I hope to increase an awareness of the nature and importance of these games. The sources utilized in the research for this chapter involved newspapers as well as guidebooks for The Games and miscellaneous reports from 1953 to 2011.

12.2 The History of the Games

12.2.1 The 1st Games in Tientsin (1953)

The first Games were held in Tientsin and took place from November 12th–18th of the year of 1953, in Tientsin (Fig. 12.1). This game was called as ‘The National Ethnic Sports Performance and Athletics Games’, which was the first ethnic sport event in China. The 5-day event has attracted 395 athletes from China’s 13³ ethnic minority groups for a total of 483 title events and demonstrations.⁴

Fig. 12.1

The open ceremony of the first Games (November, 13th, 1953. The people news). Some government officials were present in the open ceremony of the first Games

Nevertheless, from 1966 to 1976, due to the Cultural Revolution, the development of ethnic sports was forbidden from 1966 until 1976. In 1980 the, State Commission of Sports decided that ethnic sports were important, and the Chinese sponsored an ‘ethnic sports investigation conference’.⁵ This was followed, after a hiatus of 29 years, by the second games which were held in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, in 1982.

12.2.2 The 2nd Games in Hohhot (1982)

The 2nd games were held from the 10th to the 19th of September, 1982 in Hohhot (Fig. 12.2). This 9-day event attracted 863 athletes from China’s 55 ethnic minority groups and included a total of 4 competitions and 68 demonstrations.

Fig. 12.2

The open ceremony of the 2nd Games (September, 11th, 1982. The people news). Flag being raised during the opening ceremony of the 2nd Games

The purpose of the 2nd Chinese National Ethnic Games was to promote traditional culture, create a national unity, and protect ethnic sports. After the 2nd games, the event was continued and has since been held every 4 years.⁶

12.2.3 The 3rd Games in Ürümchi (1986)

The 3rd games were held from the 10th–17th of August, 1986 in Ürümchi, the capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (Fig. 12.3). This 9-day event attracted 777 athletes from China’s 55 ethnic minority groups and involved a total of 7 competitions and 115 demonstrations. It was the first time that the event involved the use a badge, a flag and an emblem.

Fig. 12.3

The open ceremony of the 3rd Games. (committee of the 3rd Game (1986). The 3rd Game Guidebook. China, Ürümchi). The gymnastics performance in the open ceremony of the 3rd Games

The purpose of the 3rd Games was to put ethnic policies into practice, to develop and improve the economic situation of ethnic minority groups, and to promote unity and thus aid in the development of China into a superior nation.⁷

12.2.4 The 4th Games in Namzning

The 4th games were held from the 10th–17th of November, 1991 in Namzning, the capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (Fig. 12.4). The 8-day event attracted 777 athletes from China’s 55 ethnic minority groups and involved a total of 9 competitions and 120 demonstrations.

Fig. 12.4

The open ceremony of the 4th Games (August, 5th, 1991. The people news). The emblem had been using from the 4th Games. Athletics are marching into the arena with the big emblem

For these games the purpose was described as augmenting the development of the sports of minority ethnic groups, the creation of equality and unity in ethnic relationships, and the establishment of a prosperous society.⁸ Beginning with the 4th National Ethnic Games, Taiwan was a participant. The Taiwan delegation was classified as the Gaoshan (高山) group.⁹

12.2.5 The 5th Games in Kunming

The 5th games took place from the 5th–12th of November, 1995 in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province (Fig. 12.5). This 8-day event attracted 2,500 athletes from China’s 55 ethnic minority groups and included a total of 11 competitions and 129 demonstrations. This games’ purpose was described as developing ethnic sport, increasing the ethnic people’s health, strengthening the concept of national unity, inspiring the ethnic spirit, and serving to further the cause of socialism and civilization.¹⁰

Fig. 12.5

The open ceremony of the 5th Games. The opening performance which was the symbol of peace, prosperity and civilization

12.2.6 The 6th Games in Lhasa and Beijing

The 6th game were held from the 21st–23rd of August, 1999 in Lhasa and from the 24th–30th of September, 1999 in Beijing (Fig. 12.6). The event attracted 6,000 athletes from China’s 55 ethnic minority groups and included a total of 13 competitions and 129 demonstrations. The purpose listed for these games was to disseminate national policy, educate people about the concept of the Chinese union, promote patriotism, and increase the development of civilization.¹¹

Fig. 12.6

The open ceremony of the 6th Games (Committee of the 6th Game (1999). The 6th Game Report. China, Beijing)

12.2.7 The 7th Games in Yinchuan

The 7th Games were held from the 6th–13th of September, 2003 in Yinchuan (Fig. 12.7). The 7th Games attracted 5,865 athletes from China’s 55 ethnic minority groups and included a total of 14 competitions and 126 demonstrations.