The 12th National Traditional Games of Ethnic Minorities came to a close in the resort city of Sanya, Hainan province, on Saturday, wrapping up the latest iteration of the event and spreading the joy of the traditional ethnic sports that can be found all around China.

11月30日，第十二屆全國少數(shù)民族傳統(tǒng)體育運動會在度假勝地海南省三亞市落下帷幕,，為最新一屆運動會畫上圓滿的句號,，各色民族傳統(tǒng)體育運動也為全國觀眾帶去了無數(shù)歡樂。

The closing ceremony of the games was held at the Sanya Sports Center, with organizers conducting the handover ceremony to the delegates representing the next host, Hunan province.

第十二屆全國少數(shù)民族傳統(tǒng)體育運動會閉幕式在三亞市體育中心舉行,，現(xiàn)場還進(jìn)行了會旗交接儀式,，由海南轉(zhuǎn)交給下一屆運動會主辦方湖南。

Gao Zhidan, director of China's General Administration of Sport, said at the closing ceremony that athletes from 35 delegations competed on the same stage, demonstrating not only their strength and skill but also a profound emotional and spiritual connection.

國家體育總局局長高志丹在閉幕式上致辭表示,，來自35個代表團(tuán)的運動員們同場競技,，不僅有力量與技巧的比拼，更飽含情感與心靈的共振,。

"The games allowed us to share the fruitful achievements of ethnic unity and progress, as well as the advancement of national fitness," he added.

他補(bǔ)充說：“這些比賽讓我們共同分享了民族團(tuán)結(jié)進(jìn)步和全民健身事業(yè)的累累碩果,。”

A total of 6,960 athletes competed during the nine days of the games, which featured 18 traditional sports and three demonstration sports. The 13th games will take place in Hunan in 2027.

在為期九天的比賽中，共有6960名運動員參賽,，出戰(zhàn)了18個競賽項目和3類表演項目,。據(jù)悉，第十三屆全國少數(shù)民族傳統(tǒng)體育運動會將于2027年在湖南省舉辦,。

As the sports — which are rooted in traditional customs and the daily lives of people from certain ethnic groups — have gained popularity nationwide over the years, the competition has become fierce, veteran ethnic sports athletes and coaches said.

不少少數(shù)民族體育運動員及教練表示,，隨著這些植根于特定民族傳統(tǒng)習(xí)俗和日常生活的體育項目在全國范圍內(nèi)越來越受歡迎，運動員們之間的競爭也越來越激烈,。

Kaharman Dawut, head coach of the wrestling team from the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, said even winning the Uygur wrestling event was tough for the team, even though the sport originated from the region.

新疆民族式摔跤競賽項目教練卡哈爾曼·達(dá)吾提表示,，哪怕這項運動的起源地就是新疆，現(xiàn)在就連新疆摔跤隊想要贏得比賽都很有難度,。

"I won first place in the Uygur-style wrestling category easily at the third and fourth games when I was an athlete. Now, we've seen many hard-to-beat athletes from other provinces and regions as more and more people take part in Uygur wrestling around China," Kaharman said.

“當(dāng)我還是運動員的時候,，我在第三、第四屆比賽中輕松贏得了新疆民族式摔跤競賽項目的第一名,。而現(xiàn)在,，隨著全國越來越多的人參與這項運動，我們注意到了來自其他省份和地區(qū)的許多強(qiáng)勁對手,。”卡哈爾曼說,。

"But it's a good thing, because it means the event has been further promoted, especially among young people," the coach said. "Meanwhile, our athletes performed well in the Tibetan-style wrestling category. I think that's the charm of the games."

“但這是一件好事,，因為它意味著這項運動賽事得到了進(jìn)一步推廣，尤其是在年輕人中間,，”教練說,。“同時,，我們的運動員在藏族式摔跤項目中表現(xiàn)不錯,。我認(rèn)為這就是運動會的魅力所在?！?/p>

During competitions, firecracker ball player Tan Weiwei from the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region paid special attention to one of his teammates — his son, 21-year-old Tan Zhenyu.

在比賽中,，廣西花炮隊選手覃維維特別關(guān)注他的一位隊友——他21歲的兒子覃振宇。

Tan Weiwei, 46, has been playing firecracker ball — which is also called "Chinese-style rugby" because of its resemblances to this Western sport — since the seventh games held in 2003. His son has shown great interest in the sport, which has a history dating back 500 years. In 2021, the sport was named a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

46歲的覃維維于2003年第七屆全國少數(shù)民族傳統(tǒng)體育運動會開始接觸“花炮”,。這項運動也被稱為“中式橄欖球”,，因其與西方橄欖球的相似之處而得名。這項運動的歷史可以追溯到500年前,，覃維維的兒子對這項運動表現(xiàn)出了濃厚的興趣,。2021年，花炮被列為“國家非物質(zhì)文化遺產(chǎn)”,。

Tan Weiwei said the sport is traditionally popular in southern China, but teams from northern China are getting stronger as its popularity grows. Team Guangxi lost to Team Beijing in the intense final at this games.

覃維維表示,，這項運動在中國南方地區(qū)一直很受歡迎，但隨著其知名度的提高，北方球隊也變得越來越強(qiáng)大,。在這次比賽中,，廣西隊在激烈的決賽中輸給了北京隊。

For many of the spectators, it was likely the first time they'd seen the sport live.

對于許多觀眾來說,，這可能是他們第一次現(xiàn)場觀看這項運動,。

"By putting on our best performances and jointly lifting the competitive level of firecracker ball, we can make more young people interested in it and take part in it just like my son. Maybe one day there will be international firecracker ball events, just like rugby," Tan Weiwei said.

“通過展示我們出色的比賽表現(xiàn)，共同提升花炮運動的競技水平,，我們可以讓更多年輕人對這項運動產(chǎn)生興趣,，就像我的兒子一樣參與進(jìn)來。也許有一天,，會有像橄欖球一樣的國際性花炮賽事,。”覃維維說,。