China News Service, Weihai, May 12 — The “Laborers Cup” Chinese Workers Basketball Series, supported by the Chinese National Sports Foundation and the Hong Kong Jockey Club, kicked off on the evening of May 11 at the Weihai Sports Stadium in Shandong Province. Thirty teams and over 220 athletes from across the nation will compete in five-a-side and three-a-side basketball events over the five-day competition.
As a national sports charity organization, the Chinese National Sports Foundation aims to promote sportsmanship, enhance competitive sports levels and public fitness, and support the building of a sports powerhouse. Since 2014, the Hong Kong Jockey Club has partnered with the General Administration of Sport of China to launch the “Let’s Get Moving, Healthy Chinese People” national fitness charity series. In 2023, it jointly established a special fund with the Foundation to provide targeted funding for various national fitness events and training of social sports instructors. This tournament marks the third consecutive year that the fund has supported Chinese workers’ basketball events.
Photo shows participating teams in action. (Photo provided by the event organizer)
Peng Weiyong, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the Chinese National Sports Foundation, declared the competition open. In the opening match of the five-a-side basketball, Shandong Innovation Group defeated Yuwei Air Conditioning 85-54 to take the first win.
Dai Peiqiang, Vice President of the Chinese Enterprise Sports Association, stated in his address that promoting national fitness among hundreds of millions of workers holds multiple significances. Basketball, with its unique charm, has a deep foundation among workers. Over the years, the Chinese workers’ basketball tournaments hosted by the association have not only provided a platform for physical exercise and skill exchange but also become an important link for business communication and cooperation between enterprises.
Photo shows the event scene. (Photo provided by the event organizer)
Li Zhuangle, the team leader of Shandong Innovation Group, said: “This is our team’s first time participating in a national competition. Our basketball team was established in March 2024. We insist on fighting and cooperating on the court, and hope to show our characteristics and make friends through basketball.”
