China's Olympic delegation gains record achievement at Paris 2024: official

China's Olympic delegation at Paris 2024 achieved its best overseas performance since it comprehensively participated in a Summer Olympics abroad in 1984, said Zhou Jinqiang, deputy head of the delegation at a press conference held in Paris on Sunday.

China's sports delegation, consisting of 404 athletes competing in 232 events across 30 sports, clinched 40 gold, 27 silver and 24 bronze medals. The haul of gold medals surpassed the 39 golds won at the London Olympics, and a total of 60 athletes claimed golds, marking a new record for overseas Olympic participation, Zhou said.

"If there's one word to summarize the performance, it's 'breakthrough'. First, we made a breakthrough in the number of participating events. [Chinese athletes competed in] 232 events, which is the highest number of participating events at overseas Olympics. Athletes in more events have the opportunity to participate in the Olympics. Second, we made a breakthrough in the total number of gold medals, as well as the quality. The 40 gold medals surpassed the 39 golds won in London and the 38 in Tokyo. As many as 60 athletes won gold medals, setting a new record for overseas Olympic participation, matching the number achieved at the Beijing 2008 Olympics. Third, we made a breakthrough in the coverage of gold medal events. At the Paris Olympics, the Chinese sports delegation won gold medals in three disciplines – synchronized swimming, artistic gymnastics and cycling BMX freestyle, in which Chinese athletes had never won gold medals before. Chinese athletes won gold medals in 14 events, second only to the 17 in the Beijing Olympics. Fourth, we made a breakthrough in the number of provinces that cultivated gold medalists. China's gold medalists at the Paris Olympics came from 20 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, and medalists from 24 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, demonstrating the new achievements of the comprehensive and balanced development of competitive sports in China," said Zhou.

Zhou said that China's six traditional strongholds, including diving, table tennis, badminton, artistic gymnastics, shooting and weightlifting, amassed 27 gold medals, accounting for 67.5 percent of the total and showcasing the nation's long-term efforts in scientific training.

The diving team won an unprecedented eight gold medals at the Paris Olympics. The table tennis team overcame major competitors and won all the five gold medals in this sport for the first time. The shooting team made a good start for the delegation's journey in Paris by winning the first gold medal for China and also achieved the best results in its history of Olympic participation.

The Chinese delegation has achieved significant breakthroughs in many events.

The number of medals won by the swimming team in Paris doubled those in the previous two Olympics, with the quartet of Xu Jiayu, Qin Haiyang, Sun Jiajun and Pan Zhanle winning the men's 4x100m medley relay final to break the United States' run of 10 successive gold medals in this event dating back to the Los Angeles 1984 Games. The 21-year-old tennis player Zheng Qinwen made history as she defeated Donna Vekic of Croatia in straight sets to become the first Asian to win the Olympic women's singles gold medal.

Zhou also recognized the rapid progress and huge potential seen in some sports in which China is a late starter, saying that the success could be attributed to club-based and market-oriented training approaches that identify and nurture young talents through targeted and personalized programs.

The 18-year-old Deng Yawen claimed China's first-ever BMX Olympic gold, while B-Girl 671 (Liu Qingyi) clinched the bronze medal in the women's event of breakdancing, which made its Olympic debut at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires in 2018 and was chosen to feature in Paris 2024 as a new sport.

China's Olympic delegation gains record achievement at Paris 2024: official

China's Olympic delegation gains record achievement at Paris 2024: official

China's Olympic delegation gains record achievement at Paris 2024: official

As the Qingming Festival approaches this Friday, various traditional folk activities have been held across China, celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the occasion.

With a 2,500-year history, Qingming Festival, or the Festival of Pure Brightness, observed in early April, uniquely combines ancestral worship with the celebration of spring. Falling on the 15th day after the spring equinox, this ritual-rich observance reflects China's enduring values of ancestral veneration and inspires deep introspection about what gives life meaning.

In Sijia Village, Huayin City, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, a unique swing festival is held to mark the occasion. Eighteen different types of traditional swings, such as the spinning wheel swing, the Bagua swing reminiscent of a rotating carousel, and the balance swing designed for two people, have attracted many visitors.

Historically, Sijia Village served as a military post guarding the strategic Tongguan pass, a former mountain pass and fortress located south of the confluence of the Wei and Yellow Rivers. The swing tradition in the village has its origins in military training exercises like climbing and river crossing. The local swing culture further developed as regional trade flourished, eventually evolving into the "swing festival" that continues today.

"It's very exciting and tests your skill, endurance, and most importantly, your arm strength. You need to maintain balance," said Qu Xiangyang, a visitor.

In Rudong County, Nantong City, east China's Jiangsu Province, another traditional Qingming activity takes place - kite flying.

Flying kites as a way of making wishes is an age-old Qingming custom in this region. As a result, the Qingming Festival in Nantong is also known as the "Kite Festival."

The local Banyao whistling kite making skills is listed as one of the first national intangible cultural heritage items.

According to a folk culture expert, people traditionally write the names of diseases or misfortunes on paper, attach it to a kite, and release it into the sky. This practice is believed to drive away illness and disaster, while also serving as a way to make wishes.

In south China's Guangdong Province, a large tug-of-war competition is underway in Maoming City. Teams from different towns and streets are competing, attracting many locals to cheer on their teams.

Tug-of-war, which originated during the late Spring and Autumn period (770 BC - 476 BC), became part of Qingming customs during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty once organized large-scale tug-of-war competitions for the festival.

"Tug-of-war became very popular in the Tang Dynasty, even emerging as the national sport. It originated in the Jingchu region and later spread across the country. In ancient Lingnan (Southern China), tug-of-war games were a common tradition. Through these events, people seek to pray for peace, prosperity, and abundant harvests," said Yao Guojun, vice dean of the College of Arts and Law, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology.

Traditional folk activities held for Qingming Festival