Biggest basketball invitational tournament kicks off in Fuzhou

280 teams and some 3500 players from 30 countries and regions begin contest on Thursday in the 31st World Chinese Basketball Invitational in Fuzhou City, Southeast China.

   According to the organizing committee, it is the largest one in the invitationals history. The 460-game event will last 4 days and players from more than 70 cities around the world will compete in 16 courts. 

   About 30% players are overseas Chinese. The tournament has been divided into 12 age groups. The youngest one is 35 and the most aged group is above 70 years old. 

   Gao Qizheng, chairman of the organizing committee, told Xinhua the annual invitational was launched in 1985, and was held in the Thanksgiving week every year.

   According to local government, it is the first time for Fuzhou to hold this event and it is the biggest basketball event ever in the city's history. The players are mostly senior citizens who used to be professional athletes.

   Chen Ye, deputy mayor of Fuzhou, said the city is the well-known hometown of more than 3,000,000 overseas Chinese who now settle in 110 countries and regions around the world. 

   "The basketball event, as part of the Maritime Silk Road International Tourism Festival activities, offers a good platform for Chinese basketball fans to enjoy themselves and make friends," said Chen.

   "People gathering here are very excited and we share the same hobby," said Gao, "It is not important whether we win or lose. Old men can still run and shoot, that is what matters!"  Endi