Shanghai’s sports office stated that the athletes will “deeply study” the “sense of standards and combat spirit” of the China military.
Shanghai, a Chinese city, reported that hundreds of athletes as young as seven are receiving military training aimed at establishing discipline and “good fighting ability”.
Shanghai’s sports office stated that the athletes will “deeply study” the “sense of standards and combat spirit” of the Chinese military.
Similar instruction, which is mostly performative and a part of a larger push to promote Communist Party values, has already been provided to Chinese football teams.
This year, President Xi Jinping stated that China has to improve military preparedness for “real combat.”
The men’s gymnastics team head coach, He Youxiao, stated that his players ranged in age from seven to twenty-five. The team is taking part in the training this week.
He stated, “Everyone deeply cherishes this opportunity, no matter how old or young,” as reported by the sports bureau.
The course will begin on Monday and go through Tuesday of next week. There are 932 competitors from 11 different sports facilities in the city.
According to the newspaper, its goal is to “strengthen the sports teams’ organizational discipline and teamwork, helping Shanghai sports create an iron army.”
The sportsmen move in perfect harmony and order from sunrise to full light, their youthful military outfits showcasing a beautiful and youthful style.
China this month passed a new education law aimed at instilling a sense of patriotism in the country’s children, as reported by official media at the time.