Country for PR: China
Contributor: Xinhua News Agency
Friday, November 04 2022 - 12:00
AsiaNet
Regatta held on Shanghai's "Oriental Rhine" in bid to build global sports hub
SHANGHAI, Nov. 4, 2022 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/--

The 2022 Head of Shanghai River Regatta was held last weekend on the "Oriental 
Rhine" Suzhou Creek, a tributary of the Huangpu River passing through downtown 
Shanghai. The sports event will further lend steam to the city in its drive to 
become a globally famous sports metropolis with worldwide influence.

Rowing has a history of 100 years in Shanghai. Nowadays, the integration and 
quality improvement of the waterfront public space of the Huangpu River and 
Suzhou Creek provide a good platform for the rowing event. The Head of Shanghai 
River Regatta is not only a sports event, but also an excellent opportunity to 
showcase Shanghai's urban development and river management.

The two-day event included a 4.2-kilometer chase and a 500-meter city dash. It 
attracted over 40 participating teams, each consisting of eight rowers. They 
competed in three divisions -- professional, college teams and clubs. Over 10 
individual rowers from clubs also raced during the event.

The Huangpu River and Suzhou Creek carry the past, present and future of 
Shanghai. Shanghai is gradually creating a "One River and One Creek" healthy 
public space, and exploring a new model of integrating landscape space and 
health features in large cities.

In recent years, a number of high-quality events, such as "Shanghai Cup" NACRA 
Sailing Race, Suzhou Creek Dragon Boat Race, Suzhou Creek International 
Kayaking Marathon and Suzhou Creek Rowing Open, have been held on the two 
waters, displaying the development vitality of Shanghai.

Rowing has close ties with universities. In 2021, the university rowing team 
participated in the Head of Shanghai River Regatta, demonstrating the spirit of 
unity, progress and solidarity of Chinese college students.

"We are all very encouraged to win the championship, and excited to compete in 
such a beautiful environment at home," said Hu Huiming, captain of the rowing 
team of Shanghai Ocean University, which won the men's eight-person single-oar 
4.2 km chase with helmsman in the college division .

It's expected that by hosting more top-level events, more people can learn 
about events like rowing and participate in them, according to Luo Wenhua, 
deputy director of Shanghai Administration of Sports, adding that people's 
physique and mentality will be nourished during sports.

Source: Shanghai Administration of Sports

Image Attachments Links:

   Link: https://iop.asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=432951

   Caption: The 2022 Head of Shanghai River Regatta was held last weekend on 
the "Oriental Rhine".

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