Photo: Nanshan International cultural exchange & service center
The 2025 “Zhaoshang Subdistrict Cup” International Youth Football Carnival kicked off on December 6 at the Shekou Sports Centre, bringing together young players and teachers from local and international schools across Shenzhen. The event aimed to use football as a platform to deepen everyday cultural exchange in one of Shenzhen’s most internationally oriented neighborhoods.
Photo: Nanshan International cultural exchange & service center
Six mixed youth teams, drawn from Yucai Group schools and international campuses including Korea International School in Shenzhen (KIS), Shenzhen American International School (SAIS), and QSI International School of Shenzhen (QSI), competed in a series of friendly group matches. The format allowed students from different school systems, nationalities, and language backgrounds to play side by side, giving them exposure to varied training styles and match tactics while strengthening interaction between local and international communities.
Teachers from participating schools formed exhibition squads, joined by foreign residents taking part in Nanshan’s “Foreigners Discover Nanshan” program, a community initiative promoting local cultural and ecological exploration and interaction between international and local residents. The mixed teams took to the field after a short warm-up, offering an adult demonstration of the skills and cooperation highlighted in the youth matches.
Between games, students staged music and dance performances, and a series of football-themed activity stations, including dribbling circuits, juggling challenges, and basic skills trials, attracted both young spectators and local families.
Photo: Nanshan International cultural exchange & service center
As the inaugural “Zhaoshang Subdistrict Cup,” the organizers said the program provides additional sports opportunities for young people and a practical setting for routine interaction between local and international residents. The festival is part of Zhaoshang’s ongoing push to build a more open, connected neighborhood that supports international education resources and community-level cultural exchange.
Reporter: Zeng Xiangxing
Editor: Hu Nan, James Campion, Shen He
