At the moment when Fidi Pitz flew more than 40 kilometers and shouted "We have won" to the people who were waiting anxiously with the last strength in his body, the soldiers and sports were closely linked by this brave soldier in the name of life, and since then sports and soldiers have forged an indissoluble bond.
Sports, based on military practice and interacting with improving the combat effectiveness of soldiers, embodies the value pursuit of soldiers, shows their spiritual outlook, blends their wisdom in the art of war and condenses their outstanding contributions.
When 109 countries, 9308 athletes, nearly 60 thousand live audience, billions of TV viewers; East and west, the world and China, we, you and them, stare together and witness together:
At 8 o’clock on the evening of October 18, 2019, a new chapter on the history of military sports was born in Wuhan Sports Center.
National Flag of the People’s Republic of China and the flag of the International Military Sports Council enter the stadium. Liu jun photo
5,000 years of long river, the fire of noble civilization shines here tonight.
More than 1,000 ancient shields and more than 1,000 towering people formed a magnificent "shield array" in the open central venue of Wuhan Sports Center. Under the dazzling light, the "shield array" fluctuates and changes different elements with the beat of music. When the word "harmony" was presented to the world, the whole gymnasium burst into deafening cheers.
At this moment, people can’t help looking back at the vicissitudes of time, and time is like water. How many times has the Chinese civilization, the only civilized flame in the world, transmitted friendship to the world without interruption for thousands of years? In the historical picture of human development, there have been many indelible "China marks".
When the long river of history flows forward, Chinese’s simplest wish is presented to the world: all-encompassing, and all the seas are peaceful. On the white paper of human civilization, our ancestors carved indelible marks with such spirit and verve. They never bully and are never narrow-minded. This nation has brought changes to the world, and such changes are in the "Silk Road", in harmonious coexistence and in common development.
Through amazing performances, what runs through its form and meaning and permeates its charm is an idea and pursuit that Chinese civilization has respected and guarded since ancient times, and it is the Chinese nation’s yearning for peace, harmony and harmony.
Cultural performances at the opening ceremony of the 7th military world games. Photo by Zhang Mingjun
Since ancient times, the Chinese nation has been a nation that knows how to pursue goodness and beauty, pursuing "a trip to the avenue" and pursuing harmony between people and between people and nature. Perhaps it is the word "harmony" that doomed military world games’s meeting with us.
74 years of peaceful watch, 24 years of joint efforts, embracing this moment in the name of sports.
"Sports always bridge the gap, but never build walls to increase the gap," said IOC President Bach in a video address to the opening ceremony of the 7th military world games.
Looking at the history of the world, we will find that in the thousands of years since written records, the time of real peace is only a few hundred years. A peaceful and stable social environment is what people of different colors and races most yearn for and pursue.
Seventy-four years ago, when the smoke of World War II cleared away and experienced the shadow and disaster brought by the war, people and soldiers all over the world cherished the hard-won peace more and more. In February, 1948, the International Military Sports Council was established, with the aim of "sports spread friendship", so that soldiers from all countries can meet each other on the field instead of on the battlefield.
In 1995, the 50th year after the end of World War II, soldiers from all over the world met for the first time under the banner of peace. Since military world games was held, every session of our army has sent a strong lineup, produced excellent results, conveyed sincere friendship to soldiers of various countries, and expressed the yearning for peace to the world. In this year’s military world games, 553 people were selected from the whole army to form our military sports delegation to participate in 24 competitions and 2 performances except golf. At the previous six World Military Games, our military delegation won the second place in the gold medal list for four times and the third place for two times respectively, and was praised as one of the "most worthy of attention and respect" teams at the World Military Games.
From the first "a peace celebration with special significance in the world military history" to today, China has made joint efforts with other countries in the world to gradually push military world games to a higher, farther and more influential position. China, as the host of this year’s Military Games, has achieved many firsts: the first to build a military sports village, the largest number of participating countries and athletes, the comprehensive application of the most advanced broadcasting technology in the industry, and so on.
"We sincerely support and love this grand event, and at the same time, this sports meeting will let the world know more about our great Wuhan and our strong country." Liu Shiran, a taxi driver in Wuhan, said.
At the opening ceremony, the program "Teacher of Peace" performed by soldiers brought unforgettable shock just after its debut: 1,792 rifles danced up and down, 1,792 pairs of feet were solid and powerful, 1,792 faces were firm and sunny, and 1,792 peacekeeping and blue helmets showed the world the elegance of China’s army.
At the opening ceremony, the program "Teacher of Peace" was presented. Photo by Zhang lei
Military world games is a beautiful window, through which people can learn more about soldiers from all over the world. Similarly, through this window, the world will know more about China and China soldiers. China has welcomed such an international event with a brand-new look, a responsible image as a big country and a confident and peaceful mind. Not only that, we will make the Games better and more outstanding.
With hope, the five continents and four seas will "create military glory" and "build world peace"
When athletes from all over the world walked onto the main stadium tonight with national flags in their hands, the audience applauded warmly for a long time. Hunting with a standard is not for fighting. On the big stage of military world games, military athletes from all over the world dressed in military uniforms began their first appearance at the 7th military world games. They waved enthusiastically and were all smiles. This smile tells the world that they are about to stage a wonderful chapter of their own on the magnificent big stage of the military games.
As the highest military sports event today, a large number of star athletes gather in the stadium. Whenever a familiar figure appears, there will always be a cry of surprise in the crowd. Many of them have made it their goal to win gold medals or medals. And more athletes, although they are not popular in winning medals, will never lose to any popular stars in their hearts.
As a grand event for military athletes, the military games make countless military athletes’ dreams come true and create their own glorious moments. At the same time, it is also a big family for the world’s soldiers to get along with each other, get to know each other and share joy.
In the long-awaited event, Zhang Wenxiu, a female hammer thrower of Bayi Track and Field Team, runner-up of the 2015 World Track and Field Championships, runner-up of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and winner of the two-time military games, ran into the venue with the torch. In the warm cheers of the audience, she passed the flame to Wang Hao, vice captain and coach of Bayi table tennis team, two-time Olympic champion and three-time world table tennis champion. With the handover of Jin Yongde, Wang Tanglin, Jiao Liuyang, Yang Junjing, Shoupeng Wang and Liu Yudong in turn, the military torch passed the last distance of the military games.
Torch relay. Photo by Zhang Mingjun
Under the eyes of the public, standing in the center of the audience, Liu Yudong, the former China Bayi Men’s Basketball Team player, is known as the "God of War". He held the torch high in his hand and strode to the main torch platform. He gently extended the torch to the ignition point, water and fire magically blended, and the flame rose. Suddenly, the main torch spewed a blazing fire and lit up the night sky in Wuhan.
At this moment, military world games opened a new page; At this moment, the history of competitive sports in China has written a new chapter; At this moment, the glory and dreams of the world’s military athletes are in full bloom.
When the flame shines in Jiangcheng, the World Military Association will officially open. When we enjoy the colorful games, we must not forget that peace is the common aspiration of mankind. Forget the opposition, there is no conflict here; Forget the war, there are no enemies here! The 7th military world games sent this message to the world — — We hope to "create military glory" and "build world peace" with the people of the world.
The moment the flame is lit. Liu jun photo
I hope that the 7th military world games will give all participants a wonderful memory and touch under the backdrop of the flaming flame — — At least, a few years later, when we think back to this night when soldiers from all over the world gathered together, what we think of in our hearts is peace and harmony. (Reporter Zhang Xiaojun)