China News Service, Tianjin, March 27th: Tianjin builds a "sports city" and sports enhance the city's "happiness"
Author Wang Zaiyu
"Tianjin Olympic Sports Center is a special home ground for me. I was selected from the Tianjin team to the national team. Today I can witness the Chinese men's football team's key victory in the world preliminaries here. It means a lot to me." Chinese Men's Football player Button said in an interview with reporters.
On the evening of March 26, in the top 36 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, the Chinese team played against the Singapore team at home at the Tianjin Olympic Sports Center Stadium. Wang Zai Yu Photography
At 21:55 on March 26, when the final whistle sounded for the Chinese team’s home match against Singapore in the top 36 of the Asian region of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, the new Chinese men’s football team led by Ivankovic experienced doubts. The big score of 4:1 "conquered a city". While saving face, it also retained some hope of entering the World Cup.
On the evening of March 26, in the Group C match of the top 36 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers held in Tianjin, the Chinese team defeated the Singapore team 4-1 at home. The picture shows Chinese team player Wu Lei (right) shooting during the game. Photo by Tong Yu
Before the start of the game, all the tickets for this game were sold out. In the words of the fans, the city of Tianjin is "really praised" for the Chinese men's football team. After the game, accompanied by the cool spring breeze in Tianjin at night, the fans walking out of the stadium were still enthusiastic. Cheers, shouts and slogans echoed over the Tianjin Olympic Sports Center for a long time.
On the evening of March 26, in the Group C match of the top 36 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers held in Tianjin, the Chinese team defeated the Singapore team 4-1 at home. The picture shows Chinese team player Fernando taking a penalty kick and scoring a goal during the game. Photo by Tong Yu
After 16 years, Tianjin once again hosted the Chinese Men’s Football World Cup qualifying home match, proving that this city will always be a strong supporter of Chinese sports. At this moment, everyone in the "Sports Capital" once again felt the power of unity, hard work, and struggle, awakening the enthusiasm and vitality of the sports spirit in the body.
On the evening of March 26, in the Group C match of the top 36 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers held in Tianjin, the Chinese team defeated the Singapore team 4-1 at home. The picture shows Chinese team player Fernando celebrating after scoring a goal. Photo by Tong Yu
Tianjin fan Xia Liang said in an interview after the game, "I have loved sports since I was a child and have been following the Tianjin team from Minyuan Stadium to TEDA Football Stadium to 'Water Drop'. Tianjin is the 'inherited' city of Chinese football, and 42,977 Fans becoming the 12th member of the Chinese men's football team at home together is a release of our city's love for sports. I am very happy and proud of my city."
International exchanges lay the foundation for the future of Tianjin sports
In a game, people can see Tianjin’s passion for sports, and fans from different regions can feel the inclusive and generous city spirit here. At the same time, Tianjin has never stopped trying on the road to assisting the development of Chinese sports.
On March 25, twelve departments including the State Sports General Administration issued the "Implementation Opinions on the Reform and Development of China's Youth Football", which clarified the expansion of the scale of junior football training in children's sports schools and the implementation of "quality improvement actions" for social football youth training. Tianjin is at the forefront.
The picture shows the Tianjin Football Association Youth Training Center team playing a friendly match with the U12 echelon of Partizan Belgrade Football Club. Photo courtesy of Tianjin Football Association
In October 2023, the Tianjin Football Association delegation brought its youth training players to visit the Belgrade Football Association for the second time after 2018. The two sides signed a cooperation and exchange agreement to promote the integration of football cooperation between the two places, and discussed conducting a number of football activities to promote exchanges between the two places and deepen the friendship between the two countries.
Coincidentally, in January 2024, the Tianjin Municipal Sports Bureau signed a "Partner Memorandum of Understanding" with the Wellington Phoenix Football Club in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. The two parties agreed that starting from this year, the two cities will take turns to hold high-level international football events.
In January 2024, the Tianjin Municipal Sports Bureau signed a "Partner Memorandum of Understanding" with the Wellington Phoenix Club of New Zealand. Starting from 2024, the Sister City Cup football matches will be held in Tianjin and Wellington in turns. Photo courtesy of Tianjin Sports Bureau
On September 7, the first game will be held in Tianjin, with Tianjin Jinmen Tigers playing against Wellington Phoenix. In addition, the Tianjin youth football team will go to Wellington, New Zealand during the school holidays to participate in Wellington Phoenix International Academy training camp training and competition. As international sister cities, Tianjin and Wellington will use sports as a medium to promote comprehensive cooperation and exchanges.
Sports spirit helps Tianjin build a “sports capital”
The construction of "Sports City" is not only reflected in the football stadium. On February 3, 2024, the Tianjin Women's Volleyball Team once again won the league championship and achieved its second five consecutive championships. It was also the 16th time in team history that the league has reached the top. From 2003 to 2024, the Tianjin Women's Volleyball Team has reached the finals 19 times and won the championship 16 times in the 22 seasons of the Women's Volleyball League. The Tianjin Women's Volleyball Team's spirit of "hard work and never giving up" has become the best footnote to the spirit of the Chinese Women's Volleyball Team.
On February 3, 2024, the 2023-2024 Chinese Women’s Volleyball Super League came to an end at the Shanghai Luwan Stadium. The defending champion Tianjin Women's Volleyball Team defeated the Shanghai team with a total score of 3-1 and won the league championship this season. Pictured is the match scene. Photo courtesy of Tianjin Sports Bureau
On January 1, 2024, Tianjin’s “Sports City” logo and theme slogan were officially released. "The logo with the colors of the river and the five Olympic rings as the main tone and the slogan 'iSports Loves Tianjin' are important basic images of Tianjin. Defining the city's 'cultural identity' in the name of sports is a carrier of the concept of a sports city. It indirectly reflects the sports culture of a city. It is not only the overflow of passion from the core of the city's spirit, but also the externalization of the city's cheerful character, making Tianjin's city image more distinctive and better satisfying the people's yearning for a better life." Li Kemin, director of the Tianjin Municipal Sports Bureau, said this in an interview at the time.
Tianjin’s 2024 “Government Work Report” proposes to “implement an action to improve national fitness venues and facilities, issue 50,000 digital sports benefit cards, and successfully run sports such as the Tianjin Marathon, China Curling League, and National Short Track Speed Skating Championships. Competition." It has also become the popular aspiration of Tianjin to enhance the contribution of sports to economic and social development, complete the sports tasks in the 20 popular projects, and accelerate the construction of a volleyball city, a sports capital and a strong sports city.
"In 2024, Tianjin will also host a number of domestic and international competitions, such as the National Short Track Speed Skating Championship, the International Street Challenge (Pole Vault)... and several mass sports events, building Tianjin into a 'sports capital' in 2030 Let’s contribute more,” said Li Shan, deputy director of Tianjin Sports Bureau.
The 2024 Tianjin Track and Field Public Open was held at the Tianjin Tuanbo Sports Center from March 23 to 24. Zhang Guowei, who has joined the Tianjin Track and Field Team, made his public debut on the 24th and won the open high jump championship with a score of 2.24 meters. . The picture shows Zhang Guowei trying to hit 2.27 meters. Wang Zai Yu Photography
Not long ago, Chinese high jump star Zhang Guowei returned to the Chinese competition after four years. He participated in the Track and Field Public Open for the first time as a member of the Tianjin track and field team and won the championship with a score of 2.24 meters. Zhang Guowei said, "Maybe many people misunderstood me and questioned me, but I returned to the competition only because of an unfinished dream: 2.40 meters. I want to fight for my dream, and Tianjin gave me the opportunity to realize my dream."
"The Tianjin Athletics Public Open is to build a stage for more sports enthusiasts to show themselves. This is also a city's unshirkable obligation and its humanistic care," said the person in charge of the competition. "Sports Capital" provides a platform and opportunities for everyone with sports dreams, allowing athletes and sports enthusiasts to inspire themselves while also inspiring everyone.
On the evening of March 26, in the Group C match of the top 36 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers held in Tianjin, the Chinese team defeated the Singapore team 4-1 at home. The picture shows fans cheering for the Chinese team. Photo by Tong Yu
"Competitive sports lies in perseverance and self-transcendence." Li Shan said in an interview: "For the majority of sports enthusiasts, supporting their favorite projects and teams, regardless of victory or defeat, is because they have an innocent heart. ';Appreciating outstanding teammates and powerful opponents, regardless of nationality, is a deep love for sports. This is the greatest meaning that sports brings to people, and it is also the sports spirit that the city of Tianjin wants to convey."
On the evening of March 26, in the Group C match of the top 36 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers held in Tianjin, the Chinese team defeated the Singapore team 4-1 at home. The picture shows Chinese team player Wu Lei (middle) greeting the fans after the game. Photo by Tong Yu
As night falls, calm gradually returns to the outside of the Tianjin Olympic Sports Center Stadium. On March 29, the 2024 National Track and Field Indoor Championships will kick off in Tianjin. Sports will always be a vivid word in this city. It is the healthy mentality of the diving masters who say "Survive for one minute, be happy for 60 seconds"; it is the ambition of comeback athletes like Zhang Guowei to "become No. 1 in Tianjin". Minus; it is also the Tianjin Women’s Volleyball Team’s ambition to “be more than sixteen championships and always fight for the top”. As Li Kemin said, “The core of the ‘Sports City’ is to make people living in this city happy and healthy. Physical fitness." (End)