[Explanation] Ice hockey is an ice competitive sport with fierce confrontation, speed skating skills, and teamwork. It can be said to be "speed and passion" on the ice.
In Yinchuan, Ningxia, there is a "Fire Phoenix" ice hockey team. The average age of the players is more than 50 years old. It is a real "older" ice hockey team.
They always grow stronger, looking for the feeling of youth on the ice.
[Concurrent] Wang Jianping, a member of the "Fire Phoenix" ice hockey team
I am 56 years old and have been playing ice hockey for about 10 years.
So the reason why I like this sport, I feel that it is an explosion and release of "speed and passion".
Every time I finish playing, I feel full of vitality.
[Explanation] The "Fire Phoenix" ice hockey team was established in the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China. At that time, under the call of the Chinese government, aspiring young people from all over the country participated in the operation of supporting the Northwest and brought the sport of ice hockey to Ningxia.
[Concurrent] Park Yang, captain of the "Fire Phoenix" ice hockey team
From the time when (China) was first liberated, young people from all over the country who supported the Great Northwest came here, among them, they loved ice and snow sports, and then they formed an ice hockey team.
This ice hockey team once represented Ningxia in the national league and won the 7th place in the country.
After that, this team has continued to the present, updating from generation to generation.
Our current generation has taken over the hockey sticks of the older generation and continues to be active here on our ice rink in Ningxia.
[Explanation] Ice hockey is one of the most antagonistic collective ice sports, and collisions, falls and other situations often occur.
These "older" athletes have more or less "suffered" in this sport, but for them, they are more fascinated by the risk of injury and the charm of ice hockey.
[Concurrent] Ma Wei, a member of the "Fire Phoenix" ice hockey team
Ice hockey is a very attractive sport. I have suffered many injuries over the years because of participating in this sport.
He had broken ribs and torn ligaments. He was kept at home for several years because of his injuries, but after he recovered from his injuries, he still played ice hockey without hesitation.
Its charm is that you can't let it go. This is a kind of "speed and passion" activity (sports). Anyway, I have been loving it and insisting on it all these years.
[Explanation] Today, the Phoenix ice hockey team is still expanding its team, and more "older" people join in, hoping to go beyond the age limit and fight freely on the ice like them.
[Concurrent] Wang Xin, a member of the "Fire Phoenix" ice hockey team
I am a new team member. For the first time, I saw them like a group of "Heavenly Soldiers and Generals". I followed their ass to learn, and soon "rejuvenated".
2 meters high, 200 catties, 60 years old, "16-year-old physical fitness."
Very happy, like a child.
[Explanation] Thanks to the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, the captain of the "Fire Phoenix" ice hockey team Pu Yang is full of confidence in the ice and snow sports in Ningxia and the Northwest. He believes that after the Winter Olympics, more and more Of people will devote themselves to ice and snow sports.
[Concurrent] Park Yang, captain of the "Fire Phoenix" ice hockey team
I think the Ningxia Ice and Snow Games will get better and better and stronger.
As the country becomes prosperous and the people’s quality of life continues to improve, all of us in Ningxia will have a better understanding of our ice and snow sports after the Winter Olympics.
Then there will be more people and more passion into these sports.
I believe that there are many people in the northwest who are involved in ice and snow sports. It is not a problem that 300 million people, 400 million people, and 500 million people in China are involved in ice and snow sports.
Xie Yu and Li Ka-shing report from Yinchuan, Ningxia
Editor in charge: [Lu Yan]