On March 19, a French boxing (or Savate) event was held at the French International School of Guangzhou, marking the start of the French boxing champion delegation's exchange tour in China. Featuring world champions Nina Bergandi and Amine Feddal, the tour is part of the 28th Francophonie Festival.
French boxing, one of France's intangible cultural heritage items, was once demonstrated at the 1924 Olympics. It embodies similar values as Chinese martial arts: respect, equality, solidarity, tolerance, and the spirit of continuous self-improvement.
After a brief introduction of French boxing, Bergandi and Feddal gave a trial lesson for students from the French International School of Guangzhou, Guangzhou Foreign Language School, and Beihai Foreign Language Experimental School. The champions praised the students for their passions in learning and expressed their anticipation for more cultural exchanges during the upcoming 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France.
Moreover, the delegation will visit Foshan, one of the birthplaces of Chinese martial arts, as well as Wuhan, Shanghai, and Beijing in the coming days. They will introduce French boxing to students from sports universities, Alliance Française, French schools, and schools that have obtained the French LabelFrancÉducation certificate through lectures, trial lessons, workshops, among others, in an effort to promote the mutual exchange of martial arts between the two countries.
Reporter | Holly, Armand (intern)
Editor | Steven, Monica, James
