Hotels are full, local specialties are nearly sold out, tourists came in droves from all parts of China…Rongjiang, a small county in a remote mountainous area with a population of less than 400,000 in Southwest China, has recently gone viral for its “Village Super League”, creating a spectacular sports carnival in China.
Every week, more than 40,000 audiences flock to the stadium for the “Village Super League”. As of the end of June, 2023, the tournament has had more than 20 billion views on the Internet.
During a match in May, Wu Chuguo, a decoration worker from Liubaitang village, Rongjiang County, scored a spectacular 40-meter goal that ignited the crowd. Wu said he was influenced by elders in his village and fell in love with the sport. In the county, rural soccer matches have taken place regularly since the 1990s. When there was a lack of facilities, soccer players used barren land as a field and wooden stakes for the posts. The boundaries were marked out with lime powder. When they can’t gather enough players, they play futsal, a soccer-based game played on a smaller hard court.
In recent years, the county has focused on gymnastics, soccer, rock climbing and other sports, which has developed outstanding national and provincial-level sporting talent. What sets the Village Super League apart from other sports events are the vibrant displays of ethnic cultures and traditions at the tournament. As players of both teams walk on the field for a game, they are accompanied by their cheering squads(啦啦队)dressed in traditional ethnic costumes and carrying local specialties. The halftime break features folk songs and dance performances, while ethnic costumes are also on display.
“I hope that more and more tourists will come to Rongjiang to watch the matches, enjoy the folk customs and local cuisine, and have fun,” said Xiong Zhuqing, a melon grower who is also a cheerleader. She says she has sold over 10,000 kilograms of watermelons since the start of the tournament. As of June 27, a total of 654 new businesses were established, including 91 in the catering sector, 188 in retail, and 195 in agriculture and food processing, the local government said.
By combining tourism with sports, Rongjiang has found a creative and meaningful way to promote rural vitalization(振兴)and rural economic growth.
12. What do the underlined words “gone viral” in paragraph 1 probably mean?
A.Won a prize. | B.Made a promise. |
C.Faced great challenges. | D.Become popular instantly. |
13. What can we know from paragraph 3?
A.Rural soccer matches are demanding on facilities. |
B.Wu Chuguo started the sports event at Liubaitang village. |
C.Rongjiang County has a deep tradition of soccer matches. |
D.The small court greatly limits soccer players’ performances. |
14. What is special about the Village Super League?
A.It covers players from all walks of life. |
B.It combines ethnic elements with sports. |
C.It aims to select athletes for national-level games. |
D.It has a cheering squad consisting of football fans. |
15. What do the statistics in paragraph 5 indicate?
A.The matches can help promote economic growth. |
B.Rongjiang’s tourism has fueled the sports industry. |
C.Selling agricultural products is key to rural vitalization. |
D.Local companies have offered significant financial support to the matches. |