I promised to talk about exhibitions, and these ones, involving Ding Junhui and John Higgins are certainly worth mentioning.
Indeed, as reported on weibo, Ding and John are in Tibet. Here is the (automatic google) translation of the article:
Lhasa Public Welfare Joy Launch Ding Junhui Shu Bao Xi Jin Sixiu Tibetan Dance
Number of readings: 946Superstar Online News 2018 “Ride” Snooker “Fighting to the Peak” series of charity events was first held on the morning of June 30 in Beijing Middle School in Lhasa. The event was hosted by the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation and the Tibet Development Foundation for Assistance, the Tibet Autonomous Region Sports Bureau, China Vision Sports Entertainment Co., Ltd., the Lhasa Sports Bureau of the Tibet Autonomous Region, and Daqing Guoyu Culture Media Co., Ltd. Group Co., Ltd. provides public welfare support for snooker events; it is worth mentioning that this is a world-class snooker tournament.
At 10:00 on June 30 in the morning, Vice Chairman of China Soong Ching Ling Foundation Dunquan, Deputy Secretary-General Aid Tibet Development Foundation Songshi Zhen, Beijing State-Ju Lee Chun Holdings Ltd chairman save the country, Reid Holdings Ltd chairman Huangyu Bing, etc. Leaders and world’s leading players in the 80s, “China Dragon” Ding Junhui with 13 large ranking champions and “Wizards” with 4 world champions joined as the ambassadors to enter the city of Lhasa Beijing Middle school sports hall. The
Throughout the course of the activity, two snooker star with the same students had a very pleasant interaction: not only quiz on general knowledge of snooker, Ding Junhui and Professor Higgins also personally pitched snooker combat skills, even They also took a counter-attack against the killing. The two star players showed a completely different temperament on the playing field, playing the best of their ability, provoking children’s laughter and screaming, and the scene atmosphere was continuously pushed to a new climax. In addition to interacting, they also donated snooker tables and other billiard equipment to the school.
The students on the other side also prepared wonderful performances for the guests. There are not only fashionable modern dances but also Tibetan folk dances. Tibet is known as the “sea of song and dance,” and Higgins from a foreign country was deeply attracted by this beautiful dance. He could not help but take out his mobile phone to take pictures. At the end of the event, the enthusiastic children invited guests to join in, so everyone danced in a circle and laughter filled the entire Beijing high school.
In fact, this is not the first time Ding Junhui has been to Lhasa. He joined his family and went into the nearest place to heaven a year ago. Unlike previous travels, Ding Junhui, who traveled as a public welfare ambassador, took on different responsibilities and had different hopes: “Snooker is a quiet and focused sport. With the development of billiards in Tibet We hope that more children will join this healthy sport and that they will reap the joy of growing up.”
This is probably the highest altitude ever attended Higgins snooker activity, and has 43-year-old “witch doctor” admits that for him really is not a small challenge: “Last night I could not sleep over and over again, intolerable headache But today I saw such enthusiastic children. They are fantastic. I’m proud of them.” In the last Tibetan dance, Higgins was very devoted and also jumped like a model, and he spoke with impatience: “I’m a great dancer and I’m jumping very well!” (Mr. Alex)
And there were more images shared on weibo as well.
Now, I know that the way China has treated Tibet and its people has not always been friendly and fair, far from it. Things have happened there in the past that were really atrocious, be it about the people’s rights, their living conditions, the crushing of their culture and traditions, the environmental damage and more. But I do hope that as China evolves – even if there is a lot of things that need to be done and improved yet – Tibetan people and their culture will find their rightful place in the country. I hope – and believe – that initiatives like this one are a sign that we are getting there, or at least closer. So, well done Ding and John.
And, just as a reminder, our European past is far from perfect: think Crusades, Inquisition, pogroms, Shoah, colonialism, slavery (including massive deportation of Irish Children to English rules territories in 17th and 18th centuries), countless wars and destructions … Actually, our present is far from perfect.
Post-WW2 China was devastated by floods, epidemics, extreme poverty and ignorance for most of its citizens and political disarray. The challenges the country was facing were gigantic. The ones they face today are still huge. Mao Zedong’s revolution was brutal, caused a lot of death, suffering, and injustice. But so was the French Revolution if you come to think of it. I don’t ever condone or excuse violence and hatred, but I do believe that the answer to it isn’t returning violence and hatred. So I’m glad to see initiatives like the one above, even if it’s only a drop in the see…
At the age of 42, Ronnie O’Sullivan enjoyed arguably the best season of his 26-year career in 2017/18. And when it comes to the debate on who is snooker’s greatest ever player, his recent success has shifted opinion firmly in his favour.
He may downplay his ambition to take those records he doesn’t already hold (“records mean nothing to me” is his mantra) but the pursuit of those achievements is surely, deep down, what drives the satisfaction he finds in playing well and winning. The thrill is in the chase.
Eurosport commentator and journalist David Hendon has seen both Hendry and O’Sullivan win world titles throughout his career working in the sport, from his role as the WPBSA Press Officer to his current job in the commentary box.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 