China’s rejuvenation to the fore as Xi Jinping opens National Games

Opening ceremony in packed stadium showcases the country’s latest achievements as well as the ancient host city Xian

Games viewed as test run of Covid-19 measures before next year’s Winter Olympics in Beijing

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The flame of the 14th National Games is lit during the opening ceremony in Xian. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 11:28pm, 15 Sep 2021Updated: 12:52am, 16 Sep 2021

President Xi Jinping officially opened the National Games of China in the northwestern city of Xian, in a key test of the country’s Covid-19 defences in the countdown to next year’s Winter Olympics in Beijing.

A colourful opening ceremony on Wednesday, replete with performances highlighting the ancient host city in front of a packed stadium of masked spectators, emphasised Beijing’s aims for national rejuvenation and to become a major sporting power by 2050.

One of the first major sporting events to welcome spectators in the Covid-19 era, its tightly choreographed and patriotism-themed opening played up the country’s growing strength, including innovations in realms such as space and artificial intelligence as well as successes in containing Covid-19 – along with a nod to its revolutionary past in Shaanxi province, of which Xian is the capital.

The 100-minute ceremony – concluding with the slogan “struggle for the new era, bravely advance the new journey” – sought to present an image of a confident and united China, including its various ethnic minority groups, and drew from references to Xian’s former glory as the capital of China during the Tang dynasty (618-907AD).