ISF Jinjiang 2020 Gymnasiade to be postponed until 2022

Xinhua News Agency, Fuzhou, August 18-- The International School Sport Federation announced that the 18th ISF Gymnasiade (School Summer Games)- Jinjiang 2020 due to run from October 16- 23, 2021 will be rescheduled to November 26- December 3, 2022 because of the COVID-19 pandem⁃ ic.

The International School Sport Federation, the China School Sports Federation, and the ISF Jinjiang 2020 Gymnasiade Executive Com⁃ mittee said in a joint statement that all organising parties have tak⁃ en the safety of student athletes and all participants involved as the priority. In view of the current glob⁃ al COVID- 19 pandemic situation and feedback from ISF members, the joint decision has been made to postpone the event.

In October 2017, Jinjiang won the right to host the 18th ISF Gymnasiade. The event originally scheduled to be held from October 17- 24, 2020 is now postponed again.

Founded in 1974, the Gym⁃ nasiade is the event of the highest level hosted by the International School Sport Federation. In 1998, the 11th Gymnasiade was held in Shanghai, China.

Jinjiang "Hero Horses" returned

A Hero Horses statue named "Honor of the City"was inaugurated at Yakou Beach in Longhu, Jinjiang on July 26.

On the same day last year, three valiant local people galloped their horses to the sea to rescue a kid. However, two of the three Hero Horses died afterwards. One year later, they returned heroically in a special way.

Jinjiang: a city of benevolence and righteousness

Last July, a 12-year-old kid was accidentally swept away by the waves at Yakou Beach. At that critical moment, Cai Liangxing, Shi Guoqing and Shi Hongyan galloped their horses to the sea and saved the kid. Unfortunately, two horses got sick after choked by seawater during the rescue and died shortly afterwards. They were posthumous⁃ ly awarded as "Meritorious Valor Horses" and mourned by netizens across the country.

Jinjiang is known for its benevolence and phi⁃ lanthropy. The completion of the "Hero Horses" statue is not only a compliment to Cai Liangxing, Shi Guoqing and the other brave rescuers, but al⁃ so a lasting memorial to the two gallant horses. It’ s also an acknowledgement to all public- spirited local entrepreneurs and warmhearted netizens.

"I hope the statue would remain a reminder to our posterity of the story of the gallant horses, and would transmit positive energy and leave this virtuous and righteous city an everlasting spiritual wealth," said Shi Nengshi, a member of Fujian Provincial Standing Committee of the Chinese Peo⁃ ple’s Political Consultative Conference and vicechairman of Hong Kong Federation of Fujian Asso⁃ ciations.

Statue dedicated to "Hero Horses"

The death of the Hero Horses prompted a na⁃ tional wide mourning. Neitizens left messages and appealed to buid a statue for the horses. Mean⁃ while, on its official microblog, People’s Daily re⁃ ported the horses’ heroic deeds of saving live along with their masters.

On Aug 15 last year, Jinjiang art and liter⁃ ary circle launched an initiative to build a memori⁃ al for the Hero Horses in the name of love, fol⁃ lowed by a campaign of "One Yuan Crowdfund⁃ ing: Paying Tribute to‘Hero Horses’", which was responded enthusiastically by local respectable peo⁃ ple, businesses, citizens and netizens as well. Gen⁃ erous donations were received and the fund- rais⁃ ing goal reached within a day, with a total charita⁃ ble contribution of over 200,000 yuan.

The "Honor of the City" statue is composed of three gallant horses, each weighing about 7 met⁃ ric tons, measuring 2.2 meters high and 2.6 me⁃ ters long. On the back of one horse among them lies prostrate a little boy, a vivid representation of the rescuing scene.

"Hero Horses" statue attracts citizens’visit

The"Hero Horses" statue has become an inter⁃ net-famous site after its completion.

On a stone tablet next to the statue, the prominent inscription reads "here are the Gallant and Meritorious Horses gallop as fast as the Dilu Horse", which arouses the curiosity of citizens who scan the the QR code beside the tablet to learn more about the touching stories of the "He⁃ ro Horses".

"This is the place where the heroic horses saved people’s life. It’s the most suitable place to erect a monument." Mr. Shi, a villager of Yak⁃ ou, said that the monument can not only serve to commemorate the "Hero Horses", warn future gen⁃ erations and carry forward the spirit of justice and courage, but also enrich the cultural heritage of Yakou beach as a tourist attraction.

Opinions

Chen Duoduo, director of the Civilization Office of Jinjiang Municipal Party Committee: When we tell the stories of the "Hero Horses", we are actually spreading people’s spirit. Thus the purpose of erecting a monument for the "Hero Horses" is to eulogize the spirit of justice and courage.

Cai Liangxing, Shi Guoqing and Shi Hongyan, the three viliant horse riders who saved the child: The statue of the three "Hero Horses" erected on Yakou beach serves to warn the citizens who come here to play to be cautious about the danger of water in preven⁃ tion of accidents. At the same time, we also hope that the statue can transmit the positive energy to the society and tell a story that will be passed on through the generations.

Lin Chengliang, general manager of Jinjiang Jinhua Stone Co., Ltd.: From designing, carving to wit⁃ nessing the unveiling of the "Hero Horses", I’ve grown all the more touched by this heroic deed. I believe that the spirit of the "Hero Horses"and the three heroic horse rid⁃ ers will touch more people via the statue.

Li Jing, associate professor of College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University: Being invited to the unveiling of the "Hero Horses" statue is an impressive experience. It is the first time I have seen a monument established for horses. I believe that the spirit of justice and courage as well as the heroic images of the three horses will become a new signature of the lovely city of Jinjiang.

Wang Changting, a writer from Jinjiang: I was particularly moved to see the "Hero Horses" standing on Yakou beach in the form of stone statue for it is the manifestation of the life-saving gallant spirit being commem⁃ orated, and the benevolence of the mass being spread. The philanthropy and benevolence of the Jinjiang people will al⁃ so be carried forward at this seaside under the blue sky.

Review

On the afternoon of July 26, 2020, a 12- year- old boy took a swim by the seaside of Yakou, Longhu Town, Jinjiang City, and was swept into the sea about three to four hundred meters from the shore. Cai Liangxing, Shi Guoqing, and Shi Hongyan, who were walking their horses on the beach, rushed into the sea on horseback and rescued the boy.

On August 3, the Jinjiang Munici⁃ pal Public Security Bureau awarded Cai Liangxing and the other two valiant horse riders the title of "Individuals Ex⁃ emplifying Justice and Courage".

On August 11, the official ac⁃ count of Jinjiang Economy News issued a tweet entitled SOS! The Life- saving Horses in Yakou, Jinjiang Seeking for Help, which attracted the attention of ne⁃ tizens all over the country. An action to save the "Hero Horses" was carried out online and offline simultaneously.

At 4 o’clock in the morning on August 13, two horses passed away one after another.

On August 15, the Jinjiang litera⁃ ture and art community issued A Propos⁃ al to Establish a Monument for the‘He⁃ ro Horses’in the Name of Love.

On August 17, Jinjiang Associa⁃ tion for Justice and Courage awarded two "Hero Horses" who died after saving people as "Meritorious Valor Horses".

On August 20, Jinjiang Economy News and Civilization Office of Jinjiang Municipal Party Committee launched a crowdfunding activity for "Establishing a Monument and Statue for the‘Hero Hors⁃ es’"and raised 209,298.5 yuan in one day.

In mid- August, Lin Chengliang, general manager of Jinjiang Jinhua Stone Co., Ltd., and Zhan Yawei, a statue de⁃ signer and clay sculptor, started the ear⁃ ly clay sculpture making and sample making of the "Hero Horses" statue. Peng Yibin, chairman of Fujian Fuqiang Stone Co., Ltd., sent three rough stones weighing more than 20 metric tons each for use in carving "Hero Horses".

　　策划：秦 娴     

　　执行：施蓉蓉 李玲玲 刘泽宇 董严军       

　　翻译：林 琳 张秀燕 吴景森 陈 娟