As we welcome the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and the United States, it naturally reminds us of the groundbreaking "Ping-pong diplomacy" in the early 1970s, when the two countries' table tennis players began to visit, changing the way ordinary people in the nations thought about the rivalry.
It's hard to imagine in the Cold War era that a breakthrough between the two superpowers took place outside the political arena.
During the 1971 World Table Tennis Championships in Japan, China's world champion Zhuang Zedong stepped forward to shake U.S. player Cowan's hand and spoke to him through an interpreter. Zhuang then presented a silk-screen picture with China's Huangshan Mountain and returned a T-shirt from Cowan printed with a peace symbol and the Beatles' lyric "Let It Be."
The exchanges shocked the world and eventually opened a dialogue between China and United States. People see the effective and valuable role of sports, with a warm embrace on prospective and long-term ties in China-U.S. relations.
NBA fever
U.S. professional sports leagues have long captured the market around the world. Among the well-known leagues like NBA, NHL, NFL, and MLB, there is no doubt that the National Basketball Association (NBA) has the most influence in China. The league launched its first live broadcast in China in 1994 and became the most-followed sports league on Chinese social media in recent years. For the league, China is the number one international market.
The world's first NBA center in Tianjin on April 30, 2018, with an appearance by NBA All-Star player Dominique Wilkins. /VCG Photo
Since 2014, NBA China has announced a partnership with the Chinese Ministry of Education, aiming to incorporate fitness and basketball development into the schools' curriculum at the elementary, middle school and high school levels. The globalization plan has made a long-lasting impact on the lives of Chinese students and brought about a wide range of school basketball programs in 500 schools from 10 provinces in the nation until 2017.
Moreover, homegrown star Yao Ming, who was selected by the Houston Rockets as the first overall pick in the 2002 NBA draft, has spurred enthusiasm in a country where an estimated 300 million people play basketball.
Olympics blossom
Kobe Bryant's shot is blocked by China's Yao Ming during the preliminary round of the men's basketball in 2008 Beijing Olympics on August 10, 2008. /VCG Photo
For at least two decades, nothing influenced the American perceptions of China more than the 2008 Beijing Olympics. A record-breaking number of China's gold medals, the classic battle between Chen Zhonghe's Chinese women volleyball team and U.S. team managed by Lang Ping, and the glorious moment when Yao Ming met Kobe Bryant were all notable memories in China-U.S. sports ties.
Looking back to 10 years ago, former President Bush Senior made his only trip to the Games as he and President George W. Bush became the first father-son presidents to attend the Olympic Games. The elder Bush attended the basketball match between China and the United States as the honorary captain of the U.S. team.
The game saw the passion of the Chinese basketball team while an injured Yao Ming failed to lead China to a dream victory. However, it was a matter of pride and honor. Kobe Bryant's "Dream Team" gave sincere respect to Yao Ming, together with his teammates.
Former U.S. President George W. Bush, along with former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger (top left) and First Lady Laura Bush, attend the preliminary game in men's basketball match between China and the United States at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 10, 2008. /VCG Photo
An optimistic outlook
Sports cooperation between China and the United States is more than what we've seen. 2018 marks the 5th year of the China-U.S. Sports Forum (CUSF). Initiated by the governments and prominent leaders in the sports industry from both China and the U.S., the forum aims to provide a platform for in-depth exchanges between Chinese and American sports leaders to discuss the innovations and future trends of international sports markets.
Guests from China and the U.S. talk about the future of the league's development during the 5th China-U.S. Sports Forum held in Beijing on August 8, 2018. /VCG Photo
Following the General Administration of Sports of China, American sports delegation visited the Xiongan New Area and Langfang City in north China's Hebei Province. Beitian Mancheng International Town, the first sports and leisure town unveiled by the General Administration of Sports, attracted the attention of the American delegation. The two sides talked about future cooperation endeavors in the construction of the sports industry and education in the Xiongan New Area.
Optimistic sports ties between the two giants continue at a crucial time. For China and the United States, it's beneficial to take advantage of the opportunities. If the 'Ping-pong diplomacy' once made communication possible 40 years ago, the unique role that sports plays in China-U.S. relations is worth continuing today.