The “December 9th Movement” was a protest led by students in Beiping (present-day Beijing) to resist the Japanese aggression and long for saving the nation on December 9, 1935. On the occasion of its 84th anniversary, the 5th Student Sports Festival and the Long-distance Race were held on December 8 to inspire BFU students to carry forward the spirit of patriotism, strengthen physical fitness, and show their determination of shouldering responsibility and forging forward. Wang Tao, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission of BFU, attended the ceremony and shot the starting pistol for the long-distance race with nearly 2,000 faculties and students participated in.
Outstanding individuals and groups in the festival were commended in the ceremony. The School of Economics and Management won the “2019 Guan Junwei Cup”, the highest honor for physical education at BFU; the College of Environmental Science & Engineering and the College of Biological Sciences and Technology won the Nomination Award. The title “Campus Sports Star” went to 199 students.
The theme of the long-distance winter race was “Fighting, for Our Beautiful Country”, calling on students to transfer from their online surfing in dormitory to playground bodybuilding. The team participation also highlighted the friendship and bond between members. Besides, four missions were set up on the racing route to make participants have an in-depth understanding of the great achievements made by the New China over the past 70 years, namely “Classic Voice Lasting Forever”, “Great Achievements Cheered Loudly”, “Best Wishes for the Motherland” and “Striving in Memorable Years”. Students can better understand the tremendous transformation of the Chinese nation - she has stood up, grown rich, and become strong, through those meaningful and interesting activities with historic pictures, classical songs and performances. The cold weather did not shadow their enthusiasm and willingness to cherish the hard-won life and participate in future activities as such.
It is reported that more than one hundred sports and fitness activities with great diversity were organized by schools, classes, and students clubs with a participation of more than ten thousand students during the festival. It has built a broad platform and created an atmosphere of understanding, loving and enjoying sports activities. BFU has launched the long-distance race commemorating the “December 9th Movement” for years in an effort to guide students to bear the history in mind, inherit and carry forward the spirit, and take on the mission of the times. During the race, hot water and ginger soup were provided to enhance the “warmth” of the games.
