"Young man needs to grow up a little more"｜Small things, big feelings · The general secretary's concern for people's livelihood②
How does it feel to "bump shoulders" with General Secretary Xi Jinping on the ice hockey rink?
In February 2017, at the Beijing Wukesong Sports Center, Xi Jinping, who came here to inspect the preparations for the Winter Olympics, watched the youth ice hockey and figure skating team skating training.
Seeing Grandpa Xi coming, the "Ice and Snow Boys" crowded around the general secretary excitedly.
On February 24, 2017, Xi Jinping warmly encouraged young ice hockey and parade skating fans at the Wukesong Sports Center in Beijing.
(Source: Xinhua News Agency)
"Seeing you skating reminds me of my skating experience." Xi Jinping and his children recalled the experience of skating in Shichahai, Beijing when they were young. When they were young, the conditions were limited. He and his younger brother both liked skating, but they only had enough money to buy a pair. For skates, Xi Jinping gave up the opportunity to buy skates to his younger brother.
"You are in very good conditions now. Not only do you have a good learning environment, but you also have such good training conditions, which not only strengthen your physique, but also cultivate a spirit of bravery and cooperation." Compared with the past and the present, Xi Jinping is very moved.
He took the hand of a small ice hockey player beside him, bent down, and bumped his shoulder with the young player.
On February 24, 2017, Xi Jinping "bumped shoulders" with young ice hockey fans at the Wukesong Sports Center, expressing greetings to each other.
Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Ding Lin
"The boy needs to grow a little bigger." Xi Jinping said with a smile.
Ice hockey is a sport of intense physical confrontation, and "shoulder bumping" is a unique way of greeting between players.
The interaction between Xi Jinping and the young players amazed many ice hockey fans: It turns out that the general secretary knows ice hockey so well!
In February 2014, Xi Jinping said in an exclusive interview with Russian TV that among ice and snow events, ice hockey is one of his favorite events.
"This sport not only requires individual strength and skill, but also requires teamwork and cooperation. It is a very good sport."
On February 7, 2014, President Xi Jinping accepted an exclusive interview with Russian TV in Sochi, Russia.
Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Lan Hongguang
From football, volleyball, basketball to ice hockey, speed skating, and figure skating, Xi Jinping is a sports enthusiast and an advocate and practitioner of national fitness.
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Xi Jinping has personally planned and promoted the promotion of fitness for all as a national strategy, leading the development of fitness for all from the height of people's yearning for a better life.
Ice and snow sports have long been a shortcoming of China's sports industry. There is a saying that "ice and snow sports do not enter Shanhaiguan".
At the beginning of 2014, when Russia participated in the opening ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympics, Xi Jinping confessed his wish to IOC President Bach: "The biggest purpose of our bid for the Winter Olympics is to popularize ice and snow sports among 300 million people. Promote the leapfrog development of China's ice and snow sports."
Xi Jinping's ambition not only moved Bach, but also attracted the attention of the international sports community. In human history, there has never been such a large-scale popularization of ice and snow sports.
After the successful bid for the Beijing Winter Olympics, Xi Jinping inspected the preparations for the Winter Olympics many times, met face-to-face with ice and snow enthusiasts, talked about the feelings of skating and skiing, and looked forward to the future of ice and snow sports.
In January 2017, Xi Jinping visited the Yunding Ski Resort in Chongli, Zhangjiakou.
In the ski resort store, he saw all kinds of helmets, snowshoes, and snow suits.
According to the salesperson, the equipment is selling well, and more and more people are participating in ice and snow sports.
On January 23, 2017, Xi Jinping inspected the preparations for the Beijing Winter Olympics in Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province.
The picture shows Xi Jinping taking a group photo with skiers at Genting Ski Resort.
Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Lan Hongguang
When communicating with children and ski enthusiasts at the ski resort, Xi Jinping said, what is the significance of hosting a green, economical and clean Winter Olympics?
It is because the health of the whole people is the meaning of the question of building a well-off society in an all-round way.
With the successful hosting of the Beijing Winter Olympics, the vision of "300 million people participating in ice and snow sports" has become a reality, reshaping the map of ice and snow sports in the world.
During the Spring Festival holiday this year, the major ski resorts in Chongli were full, and nearly 160,000 skiers galloped on the ski resorts.
The National Speed Skating Stadium "Ice Ribbon", the National Ski Jumping Center "Xue Ruyi", and the National Alpine Skiing Center "Xue Feiyan" and other Winter Olympic venues visited by Xi Jinping are open to the public. "Same" track.
On January 22, 2023, a child was skating at the National Speed Skating Hall.
Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Ren Chao
With the help of ice and snow sports, China's national fitness industry continues to release vitality.
The latest statistics show that the number of people who regularly participate in physical exercise across the country has exceeded 400 million, with a total of 3.971 million sports venues and a per capita sports venue area of 2.41 square meters.
With the establishment of "15-minute fitness circles" in many places, "where to go for fitness" is no longer a problem that plagues people.
The "Ice and Snow Boy" Guan Zizhao who bumped shoulders with Xi Jinping is 15 years old this year, and the "small guy" has grown into a big man of nearly 1.8 meters.
Keeping in mind Grandpa Xi's entrustment, he insisted on playing ice hockey and exercising, and he has more and more golf friends around him.
"Ice hockey has become a part of my life, and I will always stick to it," Guan Zizhao said.
Text / Lifeng
Editor / Zhong Qi
Sources/People's Daily, Xinhua News Agency, etc.