On October 26, the middle distance competition, the first run of the “Hello 5G” Orienteering World Cup Final 2019 & Guangdong Historical Road Orienteering Championship ‘Surfing 4K IPTV’ Cup #5, started on the scenic attraction of Xiqiao Mountain in Nanhai District, Foshan, Guangdong. More than 260 athletes from 37 countries and regions were competing fiercely for their best performance. Our reporters at site had interviews with some of them and let’s find out what they have said.

A German athlete was doing an interview.

(GHR: Guangdong Historical Road, GA: German Athlete)

GHR: Hello. How do you feel about the competition?

GA: It was really tough. The terrain is very deep, lots of climbings, up and down. And there are lots of green forest. Very detailed. Lots of tricks. So it’s more difficult to follow the map all the way.

GHR: How many years have you been running orienteering?

GA: At least for 20 years. I am 26. I started when I was a little child.

GHR: Did you know anything about China or Chinese culture?

GA: The opening ceremony yesterday did amaze me. There were performances of Kongfu and dragon-dancing. It was interesting.

An British athlete was doing an interview.

(GHR: Guangdong Historical Road, BA: British Athlete)

GHR: Hello. Is it your first time to come to China?

BA: Yes. I have never been to China. It’s the first time. It’s really a new feeling to run orienteering here.

GHR: So it’s your first time for you to be in China. What’s your impression?

BA: It’s really cool. It’s really really cool. Everything is so different. The opening ceremony we had yesterday was amazing. It took the train here from Hong Kong. Being on the train was super cool and interesting. You looked around and you would see these big buildings. You run in the forest. And it’s different to the forests in Europe.

GHR: What’s your favorite part about being here or what impressed you most in terms of culture?

BA: I don’t know. I mean I have been enjoying everything so far. The people are really nice. I think that’s the best impression you get. I meet these lovely people who are happy to see me. They are so helpful and friendly. So I think that’s the part that impressed me most.

GHR: Do you think the competition is difficult?

BA: Yes. I think it’s very difficult because it’s so different. I mean it’s the same orienteering. You use the map and you use the compass, but in different ways in lots of things in Europe. The challenge here is very different. Your choices are maybe more important than in Europe. In Europe, you mostly run straight all the time. And it’s hard and you have to find the controls. Here is you run a bit around the hills and all these things. Challenging in a different way.

The reporter was having an interview with athletes from Macao.

(GHR: Guangdong Historical Road, MA: Macao Athlete)

GHR: Have you ever taken part in other orienteering competitions before? And what’s the difference between running here and at other venues?

MA: Mostly we participated in the games in Guangdong Historical Road Orienteering Championship. Compared with the games we took before,yesterday’s competition is more complex in terrain. You cannot go straight ahead all the time and you have to focus more on the details.

Because it’s part of the Orienteering World Cup Final, you know. It must be challenging. And there are more climbings which makes it even more difficult.

GHR: What do you know about the city of Foshan.

MA: We have heard of the “Foshan Shadowless Kicking” by Huang Feihong, a very renowned Kungfu master.

It is also learnt from the interviews of other players that the ceramic and cuisine of distinguished local features have won their heart. Some of the athletes said they were very much amazed by the newly listed “national treasure” of the historical quarry on the mountain.

Highlighting the profound history and culture of the city, the quarry is the biggest and most complete historical underwater production site ever found in China. What’s more, the dyke-pond of about 7 square kilometers on the southwest of the mountain was praised by the UNESCO as the beautiful scenery rare in the world and a good example of recycling solution.

The historical quarry in Shiyan Cave.

Dyke-pond at the foot of Xiqiao Mountain.

(Copyright reserved. No unauthorized reproduction. The articles published on this site are to express only the author’s point of view and do not represent the position of the site)