Cherishing China's rich athletic heritage

High hopes

Cheered on by crowds of enthralled spectators, tightrope walker Adili Wuxor performed the acrobatic feat known to ethnic Uygur people as dawaz.

The 48-year-old was competing at his 10th Ethnic Games. Conserving and popularizing the cultural heritage of this event has become a vocation for him.

"Thanks to the inaugural Ethnic Games held in 1953, my father brought dawaz to a larger stage, even though the sport was once on the verge of extinction," said Adili, whose ancestors have lived in the remote county of Yengisar near the Taklimakan Desert for generations.

Following in his father's footsteps, a new generation of dawaz practitioners bravely press on, some even going barefoot if there is not enough money to buy a pair of training shoes.

"The Ethnic Games are more than just a sporting gala, they provide a platform for China's rich multi-ethnic culture," Adili said.

His dedication has reaped rewards, with dawaz selected for inclusion on China's "Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage" in 2006.

"It was a dream come true when dawaz reached this unprecedented level," Adili said.

A specialized acrobatics school for dawaz also has been established in Yengisar to train talented youngsters.

"It will continue to grow, and I really enjoy passing on the delights of dawaz to pupils of all ages," Adili added.

He has already set his sights even higher: To get this unique discipline onto UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

"It's good to see this national treasure flourishing again. I will keep trying until I make it," Adili concluded.

Xinhua