On March 4th, China held the Fifth Session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing. At this meeting, Mr. Gao Yanming, Chairman of Hebei Ocean Shipping Co., Ltd. and a member of the CPPCC National Committee, gave an insightful speech, stressing the urgency of revitalizing soccer in China.
Gao Yanming pointed out that soccer is the most symbolic and widely influential sport in the world. Since the reform and opening up for more than 40 years, China has made brilliant achievements in all walks of life, but the overall level of Chinese men's soccer has shown a regressive trend.
In his view, the problem of Chinese men's football has reached a critical stage, and needs to be given great attention. To this end, he proposed that the revitalization of soccer be incorporated into the national development strategy, that a "National Football Leading Group" be set up, and that the institutional advantages be fully utilized to develop a system that would accommodate China's men's football team in its march to the world stage. The soccer sector should strengthen its national awareness and learn from the successful experiences of the Chinese table tennis team and the Chinese women's volleyball team.
Gao Yanming also suggested that provincial and national teams should implement a "troop system" of training and management. National and provincial teams should dismiss players who violate discipline, disobey management, or are of bad character, and prohibit them from being hired by other teams for three years. Tattoos are prohibited during an athlete's career in order to maintain integrity.
"Soccer is a sport for all, and my country cannot become a soccer power if it does not become a soccer power. Soccer has its own unique requirements, one of which is that it must have enough fields. The state can make special regulations for the construction of soccer fields according to the population density of towns and cities, build more soccer fields, and try to expand the size of the soccer population." Gao Yanming elaborated thus.
Gao Yanming firmly believes that historical experience has proved that in our country, as long as the country attaches importance to it and the people support it, there is nothing that cannot be accomplished. He believes that, with unremitting efforts and hard work, our country will be able to develop an iron army-style soccer team with a strong sense of national identity, a correct mindset, a tenacious style of play, excellent skills and superb strength in the near future.
