China’s swimmer Pan Zhanle made history at the Paris Olympics by winning the gold medal in the men’s 100m freestyle and setting a new world record, marking China’s first Olympic gold in this event. Breaking through the waves reveals true gold. At the moment Chinese swimmer Pan Zhanle touched the wall and broke the record, all doubts, grievances, and frustrations vanished.  “Awesome! It feels incredible!” exclaimed Pan after roaring to China’s first swimming gold in Paris with a world record…

“Because of oil, the whole world has its eyes on Iraq,” Hussein sighed. “My whole life has a close connection with oil, and so has the fate of my country.” Hussein Ali Saeed, an 81-year-old resident, has spent his entire life in Kirkuk, a city in northern Iraq renowned for its abundant oil reserves. As this retired Iraqi oil worker sees it, his hometown is dotted with flames raging above the oil fields, with silver oil pipelines stretching from afar…

Breaking, also known as breakdancing, has made an extraordinary journey from street corners to the prestigious stage of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. For the first time, breaking will be included as an Olympic sport, a milestone moment for dance culture worldwide. Behind China’s impressive rise in the breaking arena stands the legendary French breakdancer, Mounir Biba. A 13-time breaking world champion, Biba now serves as the head coach of China’s breaking team. His journey to legend status began with…

Cycling has many benefits, but for Amir Ansari, the first rider off the ramp in the men’s time trial race at the Paris Olympic Games, it is more than just a sport. The 24-year-old Afghan competes in the colors of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team, highlighting how cycling gave him hope during his darkest moments while striving to build a new life. “My ambition is to represent 120 million refugees around the world and think about those who have lost…

A flash of red, white and blue of the French tricolor flag and the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris was underway, heralded by traditional accordion music. Out of the smoke from under Austerlitz Bridge sailed the boat carrying Greece’s delegation for the Games, as tradition dictates, with the Refugee team close behind receiving the biggest cheers of the night, giving reason to the words of IOC President Thomas Bach, when he said “sport is respect. Sport…

lmost every Olympiad sees new sports introduced and some other events dropped amid discussion, anger and controversy. Recent Games have seen BMX biking and skateboarding introduced, with questions asked over whether they really qualify as sports. The introduction of breakdancing also caused raised eyebrows: does an event that has its roots in music and street culture have a place in the Olympics and even if there is no doubt the fitness and agility of the competitors, many ask: Is it…

The fact that names of Chinese swimmers involved in a contamination case were leaked by certain media organizations has caused concerns for athletes, said Olivier Niggli, director general of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on Thursday. His comments followed a case involving 23 Chinese swimmers, in which names and other private details of the swimmers were disclosed, some of whom were minors, although they were later proved as no-fault and committed no violations. According to Article 14 of the World…

China and Tajikistan are jointly building a community with a shared future featuring everlasting friendship, solidarity and mutual benefit. “I am filled with joy and expectations to visit the home of a good neighbor and good brother during this crisp fall season,” Chinese President Xi Jinping said in his signed article published in Tajik media ahead of his first state visit to the country in 2014. In this midsummer, Xi’s third state visit to Tajikistan will surely write a new…

China and Kyrgyzstan should explore new ways of thinking to promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation to make it continue to deepen and more effective, said Chinese President Xi Jinping here on Wednesday. Xi said the two sides should expand economic, trade and investment cooperation, enhance connectivity and expand cooperation on new quality productive forces. Xi made the remarks in his talks with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov ahead of the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of…

China is ready to work with Uzbekistan to promote the high-quality development of China-Uzbekistan relations with the future of the country and the well-being of its people in mind, said Chinese President Xi Jinping here on Wednesday. Xi made the remarks during a meeting with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev ahead of the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Astana. During Mirziyoyev’s successful state visit to China in January, China and…