Guangzhou is playing host this week to the first-ever BRICS Games, a sporting tournament that pits athletes from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa against each other in basketball, women's volleyball and wushu.
The inaugural five-day event kicked off Saturday at the Guangzhou Baiyun International Convention Center and will see some 300 athletes competing for a total of 10 gold medals.
China’s delegation totals 53 people, 32 of whom are participating in athletic competitions.
President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the tournament in which he praised the BRICS Games as a chance to “improve performance, popularize traditional sports, promote sports development and enhance friendship among peoples,” according to Xinhua.
"I hope athletes on all sides will display true sportsmanship and excel in the Games," President Xi added.
Originally known as ‘BRIC' before the inclusion of South Africa back in 2010, BRICS is an acronym for the world’s five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
Fujian province’s coastal city of Xiamen will play host to the 9th BRICS Summit this September.
[Image via plenglish.com]
0 User Comments