Guangzhou and Chongqing were the places to be for youth basketball fans in October 2019, as the 2019 China-U.S. Youth Basketball Friendship Games were held between October 13th and 20th, 2019. The event was hosted by the Sino-American Friendship Association (SAFA). Chaminade College Preparatory from California played against top ranking Chinese high school teams in Guangzhou and Chongqing. The friendship games brought together students from both sides in a cultural exchange that also helped improve their skills and enhance the friendship between the US and China.

The first game in Guangzhou was presented by the China Southern Airlines. The team then travelled to Chongqing Tongliang and Bishan for a 5-day-visit and games, also with the support of China Southern Airlines. Besides the exciting basketball games in both cities, players also participated in cultural exchange activities and visited the modern parts of Guangzhou, the historical sites and ancient town of Tongliang Anju and enjoyed the unique countryside and the metropolitan atmosphere in the Bishan district. They also went for an adventure at Huashengyuan Golden Cake Dream Kingdom Park in Dadukou District of Chongqing.

SAFA is honored and excited to bring the world of international basketball to the roots of the next generations of basketball stars and share their experience during this journey of history and culture in southern China. To follow and learn more about this exciting event, please follow SAFA at:

Facebook: @SinoAmericanFriendshipAssociation
Instagram: @safaus_official
Twitter: @us_safa
YouTube: @Sino-American Friendship Association

On October 19th, Chaminade boys basketball team went for cultural exchange activities in Bishan District, Chongqing. The Chaminade boys basketball team started the activities from the Planning Exhibition Hall of Bishan District and visited Xiuhu Park, the car campsite, and the Fengxiang Lake Children's Park to gain an in-depth understanding of the unique countryside and the metropolitan atmosphere in the Bishan district.

 The friendship game between Chaminade boys basketball team and Bishan Middle School basketball team

  

 Gifts exchanges between Chaminade boys basketball team and Bishan Middle School basketball team

 

 

 Post-game group photo

 

 -CHONGQING TONGLIANG, CHINA-

As the second stop of the 2019 Chongqing International (China-U.S.) Youth Basketball Friendship Games, Tongliang and its Oriental Chinese “Dragon” Culture has long been expected by the Chaminade boys basketball team.

As the home of dragon dance, Tongliang’s profound Chinese folk culture and art has been representing one of the important parts of Chongqing culture. Tongliang’s dragon dance has also been included in the national first batch of intangible cultural heritage list. It has participated in the national day celebrations in Beijing three times and has performed in more than 20 countries and regions. The nature of Tongliang is beautiful, too. There are Anju National Wetland Park and Yuqingshan National Forest Park, with a forest coverage rate of 48.3% and a per capita green space area of 42 square meters.

 

Chaminard boys basketball team went to Xuantian Lake Resort and Huangjuemen Colorful Garden Tongliang China to experience the natural beauty of Tongliang, and visited the Anju Ancient City to learn Chinese cultural heritage behind Tongliang’s oriental dragon culture.

 

 Chaminade team at Xuantian Lake Resort

 

 

 Visiting the Anju Ancient City

 

 Learning Chinese dragon dance

 

 Learning Tongliang Chinese dragon culture

 

 Visiting Huangjuemen Colorful Garden Tongliang China

 

 Visiting Huangjuemen Colorful Garden Tongliang China

 

As Tongliang’s famous school with over a hundred years history, Tongliang High School started a friendship game with the Chaminade team, which is part of the 2019 Chongqing International (China-U.S.) Youth Basketball Friendship Games. Both teams are obviously focused and competitive at game. Seeing the positive interactions between Chinese and American players, coaches, school executives were both very pleased. “The success of a country relies on our people and the youth we see in front of us today are the people of our future,” said by Peter Zhang, President of the Sino-American Friendship Association.

Chaminade team visiting Tongliang High School

 

Gift ceremony before the game

 

Playing national anthem before the game

 

 Yang, Dahuai, vice chairman of the CPPCC starting the game

 

 During the game

 

  During the game

 

 Post-game group photo

 

 Post-game group photo

 

-CHONGQING, CHINA-

  

On October 15th, the establishment ceremony of Chongqing International Youth Research Tourism Base was held at the former site of Roosevelt Library in the Chongqing Children’s Library. Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture Tourism Development, Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, relevant departments of Chongqing Research Tourism Association, some primary and secondary school students, and the Sino-American Friendship Association participated in the ceremony.

To celebrate the establishment of the Chongqing International Youth Research and Tourism Base, and to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of Sino-American Diplomatic Relations, Sino-American Friendship Association donated a bronze statue of Franklin Roosevelt, the 32nd president of the United States.

 

“We look forward to further strengthening cooperation with Chongqing Cultural and Tourism Development Committee, to jointly create a favorable environment for Chongqing’s global development.” Said Peter Zhang, President of the Sino-American Friendship Association at the ceremony.

 

 Sino-American Friendship Association donated a bronze statue of Franklin Roosevelt

 

The team attended a friendly competition on basketball in the evening of October 16th with Chongqing all-star high school team. The Chaminade team won a 80:61 victory in the match, which was their first friendship game during their five-day trip in Chongqing.

 

 Cheerleaders' performance during the half-time break

 

 The first stop of 2019 Chongqing International (China-U.S.) Youth Basketball Friendship Games

 

 

-GUANGZHOU, CHINA-

  

Flying with China Southern Airlines, the boys basketball team of Chaminade College Preparatory arrived in Guangzhou, China on Sunday, October 13th to kick off their one-week friendship games with the top ranking Chinese high school basketball teams and explore Chinese cultural adventures.

 

 Chaminade College Preparatory boys basketball team visiting Guangzhou, China

 

For the Chaminade basketball team, it was once in a lifetime opportunity of participating in various Chinese cultural experiences in Guangzhou rather than just playing a basketball game there. On the second day of their stay in Guangzhou, Chaminade competed their first friendly game against Guangdong Experimental High School basketball team at 2019 China-U.S. Youth Basketball Friendship Games in Guangzhou Presented by China Southern Airlines. This friendship game guided by Guangzhou Information Office, hosted by Sino-American Friendship Association and Guangdong Experimental High School, co-organized by China Southern Airlines Co. Ltd., and supported by Guangzhou Municipal Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau has been a great success.

 

Guangdong Experimental High School won a narrow 88:86 victory in the match with Chaminade College Preparatory School. China players believe the game is undoubtedly a valuable opportunity to learn the coaching concepts and methods of basketball practice in the United States. This experience allows the Chinese players to broaden their horizons in the future to achieve higher goals. The Chaminade team is still excited about the friendship they have built and looking forward to future adventures. "This time, I'm looking for another great experience. We just did some really fun events here and I'm set to do more events throughout our time in China," said Abe Eagle, a player who visited China with the team two years prior.

 

Both China and the United States players said after the game that the competition not only allowed the two sides to learn from each other's skills but also deepen their understanding of the cultures of the two countries.

 

 Chaminade boys basketball team gifted a signed basketball to Zhang,Chongyang to express the appreciation of the support from China Southern Airlines to the friendship games

 

 Chaminade College Preparatory boys basketball team interviewed by media

 

 Over 2,000 audiences attending the 2019 China-U.S. Youth Basketball Friendship Games in Guangzhou Presented by China Southern Airlines

 

 Playing national anthem before the game

 

 Zhang,Chongyang representing China Southern Airlines starting the game

 

 Zhang,Chongyang representing China Southern Airlines starting the game

 

 Competition between the Chaminade College Preparatory and Guangdong Experimental High School

 

 “Friendship First, Competition Second”

 

 Guangdong Experimental High School basketball team won the game at 2019 China-U.S. Youth Basketball Friendship Games in Guangzhou Presented by China Southern Airlines

 

 Zhang,Chongyang representing China Southern Airlines giving the medals to Chaminade team

 

 The friendship game champion -- Guangdong Experimental High School

 

 Chaminade Team taking photos with representatives of Guangdong Experimental High School, China Southern Airlines, and Guangzhou Municipal Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau

 

 The Chaminade team is excited about the friendship they have built and looking forward to future adventures