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Sport and Culture Dominate Nanjing’s Top Stories of 2019

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Looking back over The Nanjinger’s headlines for 2019, it is quickly apparent that above all, sport and culture have been the top stories in which Nanjing has hit the headlines. Worth remembering that the last 12 months has brought us much to be happy about.

As with many years, it appears that the bad news in our world has been to the fore in 2019. It is simple human nature that we like reading about the bad and horrific. All too often, it is these kinds of stories that the media chooses to prioritise.

The Nanjinger, as usual, takes a different approach.

Therefore, enjoy this last weekend of 2019 in a more positive light, with a look back at this year’s happier stories, beginning with sport and culture. Just another reminder why Nanjing is such a great place to live.

Nanjing as the Sporting Capital of China

Many might think that to be a bold statement. Yet, few remember Nanjing was host to the country’s first national games in 1910. The China National Sports Association was also established in Nanjing, while China’s first Olympic delegation trained here too.

Two world-class sporting events blessed Nanjing this year; the 2019 Premier League Asian Cup and the Basketball World Cup.

The former saw Manchester City, Newcastle United, West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers play against each other, before the finals in Shanghai. Even the teams’ mascots got in on the action, visiting a local primary school and taking a cruise on the Qinhuai River.

At the end of August, the Basketball World Cup got underway in Nanjing, in addition to seven other Chinese cities. Of the 32 teams taking part, facing off first in Nanjing were Brazil, Greece, Montenegro and New Zealand.

From court to track; excitement built this year, as Nanjing is host of the IAAF World Indoor Championships in 2020. The city’s inaugural World Challenge meet, on 21 May, saw the Nanjing Schools Youth Relay take place. Among the participants were the BSN Foxes, who were representing The British School of Nanjing (pictured). Prior, Olympic gold-medal winner, Halimah Nakaayi, was among the top athletes to conduct student workshops at the school.

Nanjing’s sporting prowess was further illustrated in 2019, with two other stories that captured a little less attention but were no less significant.

Firstly, breakdance returned, in the form of the World DanceSport Federation World Breaking Championship in Nanjing. Secondly, China won the Volleyball Women’s World Cup, and on the team were two Jiangsunians who both call Nanjing home.

Finally with sport, The Nanjinger took time out to explore a couple of other great sporting options in our fine city.

For joggers, we outlined the top routes for staying cool(ish) in the heat of summer. Then we visited the Tennis Academy of China, with its four Grand-Slam-standard courts.

Culture Vulture; Nanjing Comes Tops!

With over 2,500 years of history, culture is never far from the headlines in Nanjing. Of the countless stories, two in particular caught The Nanjinger’s attention.

Two years in the making, Nanjing finally became China’s first City of Literature, as awarded by UNESCO. Then there was the student at Nanjing International School who came tops out of 300,000 in a global video-making competition.

From Sport and Culture and Fastest to Oldest, there’s a Nanjing Superlative for Everything

Being as old as it is, Nanjing has had time to amass quite a collection of world firsts. 

The city lay claim to the world’s fastest train service in 2019, that speeds us to Beijing in record time. Back in time, the oldest flower fossil on Earth was discovered on the outskirts of Nanjing. We got an exclusive interview with the man responsible.

And I’m Feeling Good! Nanjing Warms Hearts in 2019

A Nanjing mother fulfilled her promise to her two daughters in 2019; to visit them in university in Europe and the UK. To do so, she got on her motorbike and rode 7,000 kilometres.

Still on two wheels, The Nanjinger this year charted the progress of a young Korean girl, who set out to cycle from Shanghai to London. She did just that.

Back in 2012, the world’s heart bled for a Chinese 4 year old boy running virtually naked in the snows of New York. Turns out he’s from Nanjing, and this year he became the youngest-ever college graduate.

Together with sport and culture, these stories show there has been plenty to set 2019 apart for Nanjing. Undoubtedly the next 12 months shall bring more of the same; The Nanjinger looks forward to sharing it all.

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