Outdoor badminton has emerged as a new sport and a fresh trend in fitness. On October 16, 2021, the 11th Qingdao National Fitness Games ‘Bank of Communications Cup’ Outdoor Badminton Promotion Tournament and the China Badminton Association Outdoor Badminton Promotion Event (Qingdao Station) grandly opened at the Urban Balcony (Beach) in the West Coast New District of Qingdao. Attending the opening ceremony were Wang Wei, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the China Badminton Association; Xu Hang, a consultant to the People’s Government of Shandong Province and former Deputy Director of the Qingdao Municipal People’s Congress; Che Jinghua, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Director of the Qingdao Municipal Bureau of Sports, Chairman of the Sports Federation; Jiao Shuguang, Deputy Director of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Director of the Qingdao Municipal Bureau of Sports; Jiang Huan, Party Leadership Group member of the West Coast New District Government; He Biao, Party Committee member and Deputy Branch Manager of the Qingdao Branch of the Bank of Communications; Sun Peng, Deputy Minister of the Competition Department II of the China Badminton Association; and leaders from various units such as the Qingdao Sports Development Center, the Education and Sports Bureau of the West Coast New District, Qingdao Huangdao Development (Group) Co.
, Ltd., Qingdao Jin Yuan Construction Group Co., Ltd., and the West Coast Badminton Association. Nearly 200 athletes, coaches, referees, partners, and media representatives from five cities including Beijing, Shenyang, Zhengzhou, Qingdao, and Rizhao participated in the opening ceremony. The event specially invited Li Junhui, the 2018 World Badminton Championships men’s doubles champion and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics men’s doubles silver medalist, to attend the opening ceremony. At the ceremony, Jiang Huan, Party Leadership Group member of the West Coast New District Government, delivered a welcome speech. Deputy Director Jiao Shuguang and Deputy Branch Manager He Biao also delivered speeches. Director Che Jinghua presented a plaque to the Qingdao Branch of the Bank of Communications as a ‘Qingdao National Fitness Competition Event Partner’. Finally, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General Wang Wei of the China Badminton Association declared the competition open. The outdoor badminton project, jointly launched by the Badminton World Federation and the China Badminton Association, has been well-received by badminton enthusiasts. This outdoor badminton promotion tournament is the first of its kind held in Shandong Province. The event is based on Qingdao’s strong badminton grassroots foundation and fully showcases the regional characteristics of Qingdao’s mountains, sea, and city, providing a platform for badminton enthusiasts nationwide to interact and communicate. On the other hand, through the influence of world champions, the event promotes the development of outdoor badminton in the Qingdao area, creating a new fashion sports card. After the opening ceremony, 24 teams from various districts and cities across the country and Qingdao competed in a mixed team competition. In the championship challenge section, Qingdao amateur badminton champions will challenge the world champions, attracting many citizens and tourists to watch. Additionally, the event also set up citizen experience competitions and badminton fun competitions, adding to the entertainment and watchability of the event.Without universal health, there can be no comprehensive well-being. From workplaces to communities, from indoors to outdoors, an increasing number of citizens are joining the ranks of fitness enthusiasts, enjoying the fun, strengthening their bodies, and tempering their wills. Mass sports are developing towards greater diversity, richness, higher levels, and higher quality. As a new sport, outdoor badminton breaks through the limitations of venues, allowing for anytime, anywhere, and immediate action with a swing of the racket. It is believed that with the strong promotion by sports departments at all levels, more enthusiasts will be attracted to participate, fully enjoying the health and happiness brought by badminton, adding a beautiful scene to the vibrant canvas of national fitness.
