Published on : 13/09/2024
On September 13, 1959, the inaugural National Games of China (全國運動會) was held at the Beijing Workers' Stadium.
The National Games is the highest-level and largest scale comprehensive sports event in China.
In late 1953, the Party Group of the National Sports Committee submitted a report to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on strengthening physical education, which was discussed and approved by the Politburo in early 1954.
By 1958, the Central Committee of the CPC had issued a directive on sports work, stating that the National Games would be held to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, noting that this would, "further promote the development of our country's sports and holds great significance internationally, therefore, it needs to be well-organised."
The opening ceremony of the first National Games was held at 3pm on September 13, with delegations from 24 nations and regions including the Soviet Union and France participating, totalling more than 80,000 people.
The first National Games featured 36 competitive events and six performance events, with 10,658 athletes participating, averaging 21 years old. A total of 384 gold medals, 405 silver medals, and 380 bronze medals were awarded during the first National Games.
The emblem of the first National Games was composed of a golden track, golden wheat, and an exaggerated red number 1.
The wheat symbolises the fruitful results of ten years since the founding of New China, while the "1", which looks like it is springing out of the track, resembles an ascending arrow, synonymous with the fiery and energetic construction of New China.
