Senior ice hockey team takes to the rink as winter sports grow in popularity ahead of Beijing Games

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An ice hockey team was founded by a group of hockey enthusiasts, whose average age is over 60, in China’s Shijiazhuang. The group of elderly men played ice hockey on a frozen lake in Chang’an Park on Wednesday.

The team has more than 20 players, most of them are retirees, who despite their age are in good shape.

Cao Gang, 66, is one of the ice hockey enthusiasts and has been the backbone of the team.

These elderly men love ice hockey and often participate in ice hockey events. At the opening ceremony of the 3rd Shijiazhuang Ice and Snow Games held not long ago, the ice hockey team comprised of elderly people attracted the attention of the audience as soon as they appeared on the field.

“The Winter Olympics is about to be held soon. We are also grateful to our national government for taking a lead in the national fitness, especially for our middle-aged and elderly people, and leading more ice lovers in ice and snow sports,” said Sun Sheng, another member of the ice hockey team.

The Beijing Winter Olympics will open on February 4 and with the Winter Games approaching, more and more people are learning ice hockey.

SOUNDBITES:

SOT, Sun Sheng, Ice hockey player (Mandarin): “The Winter Olympics is about to be held soon. We are also grateful to our national government for taking a lead in the national fitness, especially for our middle-aged and elderly people, and leading more ice lovers in ice and snow sports.”

SOT, Zhang Hai Jun, Ice hockey player (Mandarin): “I like to play since I was a child, because we grew up near the park, and we had no condition to buy skates at that time. We tied boards to our feet to play. Only slowly afterwards when the conditions began to get better, we bought skates, and started playing together.” *LOOSE TRANSLATION*

SOT, Zhang Hai Jun, Ice hockey player (Mandarin): “In recent years, the country has begun to develop ice and snow sports, especially after the successful application of the Beijing East Olympic Games, the ice rink has been built like bamboo shoots after a spring rain. Shijiazhuang also has several indoor ice rinks, so that we can play ice hockey all the year.”

SOT, Cao Gang, Ice hockey player (Mandarin): “Our team now has more than 20 people, most of them are retirees, who come together to play ball, other activities and exercise. I feel very good, we have a slogan ‘happy ice hockey happy every day’.”

SOT, Cao Gang, Ice hockey player (Mandarin): “We usually train in the indoor ice rink, catch up with the students on holiday or weekend people. We can train for more than an hour. Generally, when there is no natural ice (outside) we go indoors. The indoor is not like this outdoor natural ice rink, but this year the weather is not very cold.”

SOT, Cao Gang, Ice hockey player (Mandarin): “Ice exercise is a full exercise for the body, such a hobby benefits you lifelong, that is, strengthen the body and exercise your will.”

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