Qianhai Frisbee Event Brings Expats Together in Joy

　　On May 18, the "Undefined Frisbee: Fun Game for Expat Talent," jointly hosted by the Shenzhen Municipal Science, Technology and Innovation Bureau, the Shenzhen Municipal Culture, Media, Tourism and Sports Bureau, Qianhai International Talent Hub and EyeShenzhen, was held at Qianhai Guiwan Park in Shenzhen. Nearly 20 foreign friends from countries, including the U.S., the U.K., Brazil and Russia gathered on the green field to enjoy the fun of ultimate Frisbee event.

　　Before playing Frisbee, the expats attended a salon session at the Qianhai International Talent Hub, where they received information about Shenzhen’s sports venues and learned how to reserve them. Staff members from the Shenzhen Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Film, Tourism and Sports and EyeShenzhen introduced attendees to the sports venue booking process in the city. Shenzhen now boasts 39,256 sports venues, covering an area of more than 39.66 million square meters. Residents can make reservations for a total of 10,230 sports venues through the “iShenzhen” app. The foreign friends seized the opportunity to interact and share their experiences in booking sports venues.

　　“I enjoy swimming a lot, but using fitness gym pools is expensive for me. Now, I can find more affordable swimming pools through the app, which is amazing,” said Kisha Matthew from the U.K. She has been in Shenzhen for about eight months and has found that the local community is highly spirited when it comes to sports, with numerous active groups.

　　After the salon session, everyone changed into their sports gear and moved to the green space. A coach explained the throwing skills of Frisbee in detail before the group engaged in simple throwing exercises and warm-ups for a friendly match. Afterwards, the players were divided into two teams, sporting pink and blue vests, and competed eagerly on the grass. Experienced players patiently instructed the newcomers, discussing strategies and providing opportunities to play.

　　Nikita Potrashilin from Russia said, “Normally, I play tennis, badminton, ride motorcycles, and surf. The Frisbee brought me a brand new experience. This team sport has its own special rules.”

　　Andres Raul Brown from the U.S. is a seasoned player who leads two Frisbee teams that have participated in numerous tournaments. He was warmhearted in teaching new players. “I love to see people new to Frisbee getting interested in Frisbee. My goal is to make it interesting for them so that they play more,” Brown said. “In Shenzhen, the Frisbee community is growing, and we are trying to improve the spirit,” Brown said.

　　As an international language, sports activities not only showcase the charm of sports culture but also help foreign friends integrate into Shenzhen more quickly and enrich their lives in the city. Moving forward, the Shenzhen Municipal Science, Technology and Innovation Bureau will continue to organize more academic, cultural, sports, and other activities for foreign talents to create a more livable and suitable international environment, attract more foreign professionals to settle and develop in Shenzhen, and contribute to the city’s high-quality growth.