A cheerleading competition was held on Friday at Yuanling Primary School, Futian District, with 36 teams dedicating their performances to various groups of COVID frontliners such as doctors, nurses and police. Watching the competition were teachers, students, parent representatives as well as professional judges. Cheerleading, which combines dance and acrobatics with shouted slogans in order to entertain spectators at sporting events and to encourage enthusiastic cheering, has gained recognition as a sport in its own right. Originating in U.S. schools, the activity symbolizes school spirit, leadership and youthfulness. Yuanling’s young performers showcased various styles of cheerleading during the competition, with some leaning towards Chinese folk dances, some combining hip-hop elements, some displaying demanding skills and dazzling showmanship, with one team incorporating a martial arts performance. A wide range of music styles was also chosen to match the choreography, with some using rap, R&B and chorus music with their routines. One team even used a short clip of a newscast to usher in their performance. The teams also went the extra mile to choose impressive costumes, with one team dressed up as the legendary ancient Chinese heroine Hua Mulan, . The performers displayed good sportsmanship and team spirit. One student, despite her shoes slipping off, completed all the moves with a smile. The cheerleading team of the neighboring Hongling Middle School, a national cheerleading champion, was invited to give a performance at the competition. Many of their members were Yuanling Primary School alumni, who came to love cheerleading on the playground their soccer team. Soccer and other sports have become a feature of Yuanling Primary School over its 36-year history, with a “Headmaster Cup” soccer tournament held annually on campus. The cheerleading competition is a sideline event of the soccer games. Mei Yanqi, headmistress of the school, said this year’s soccer tournament and cheerleading competition are a case in point to demonstrate the importance of physical education. “We choose the theme of fighting COVID-19 for this year’s events not just to honor those who are selfless in times of difficulty, but also to draw attention to the importance of keeping fit,” she said. (Li Dan) | 