Advertisement
Covid or no Covid, let the National Games begin in China’s ancient city of Xian
- President Xi Jinping is expected to visit the Silk Road centre for the opening of the Olympics-style sporting event
- Xian has been spruced up with new venues and infrastructure but on the ground many people are still reeling from the coronavirus
Reading Time:4 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
4
Sarah Zhengin Xian
The countdown has begun and the signs are everywhere.
Advertisement
In Xian, the ancient Silk Road city in northwestern China, just days remain until the start of the National Games, an Olympics-style sporting event being held in Shaanxi province for the first time.
There are reminders every few steps in the city, from the sides of buses and taxis to slogans on banners in the middle of main roads, and on television screens.
“Because of you, the National Games will be more brilliant; because of me, Xian will be more beautiful,” one banner says.
“I am civilised, I take action, I will help bring honour to the National Games,” another urges.
03:05
Ancient city of Xian takes extensive measures to protect China’s National Games from Covid-19
Ancient city of Xian takes extensive measures to protect China’s National Games from Covid-19
It will be the first major sporting event in China in the post-Covid-19 era and it is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of spectators to a range of new sporting venues.
Advertisement