2025 The Fifth BRICS Health Qigong Gen Z Training Camp and China-Russia Health Qigong Exchange officially opened at Wuhan Sports University (WHSU) on October 10. The event was co-hosted by the Chinese Health Qigong Association, the Hubei Administration of Sport, and WHSU, and organized by the School of Wushu, WHSU and the Hubei Administration of Sport's Wushu and Winter Sports Management Center. Attendees at the opening ceremony included Viktor Sterlikov, President of the All-Russian Federation of Health Qigong; Chen Xuebing, Deputy Director of the Health Qigong Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China; Zhu Ying, Head of the International Development Department of the Health Qigong Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China; Zhang Biao, Deputy Party Secretary and Vice President of WHSU; Zhu Lei, Party Standing Committee Member and Vice President of WHSU; Chen Wensheng, Level II Bureau Rank Official of the Hubei Administration of Sport; Jiang Xia, Deputy Director of the Hubei Administration of Sport's Wushu and Winter Sports Management Center; as well as heads of relevant departments and schools/colleges of WHSU and faculty representatives.
Zhang Biao delivered the opening address on behalf of the university, stating that Health Qigong not only serves as an excellent exercise for fitness for all but also represents a cultural treasure imbued with the millennia-old wellness wisdom of the Chinese nation. As a leading sports institution in China, WHSU has both the responsibility and the capacity to utilize the unique medium of Health Qigong to amplify China's voice to BRICS nations, thereby contributing the "strength of the sports academy" to fostering mutual understanding and cultural exchange among BRICS member states.
In his address, Viktor stated that the All-Russian Federation of Health Qigong has been dedicated to promoting Health Qigong in Russia and Russian-speaking regions for a long time. He added that the federation will continue to cultivate new talent to ensure every region has qualified bearers, thereby helping sustain and further the development of qigong as a sport and art form.
Chen Xuebing affirmed the diligent efforts made by the university in preparing for the event. He noted that Health Qigong is a crucial activity for promoting fitness for all and functions as a cultural link fostering friendship among the BRICS nations. He expressed hope that the participants would seize this opportunity to engage in extensive exchanges, make collective progress, and become both promoters of Health Qigong and bearers of the BRICS spirit of friendship.
Centered on the theme of "Disseminating Health Cultivation Culture and Promoting Life Wellness," this event precisely targeted the characteristics and needs of the "Gen Z" youth and middle-aged demographic. It deeply integrated Health Qigong skills training, cultural seminars, and international youth interaction, establishing a professional and efficient platform for cross-border exchange.
The ten-day event featured a diverse and exciting program, including advanced instruction in classic Qigong exercises such as Yijinjing, Mingmu Gong, Campus Wuqinxi, and Sitting Shi Er Duan Jin. It also offered cultural activities like Chinese calligraphy and tea appreciation and exchange, a comparative salon on traditional Chinese and Russian wellness cultures, and academic forums, including a China-Russia Health Qigong Exchange.
Representatives from organizations in BRICS nations, including Russia, Brazil, and India, also delivered remarks, expressing their eagerness to use this event to gain a deeper understanding of Health Qigong and personally experience the allure of traditional Chinese culture. They further hoped to become active promoters of Health Qigong in their respective countries, contributing to cultural exchange among BRICS member states.
The event offered a valuable platform for "Gen Z" youth from BRICS nations to exchange ideas and learn, while also serving as an international showcase for WHSU's educational capabilities and cultural confidence. WHSU will continue to deepen the international promotion of traditional Chinese sports like Health Qigong, injecting youthful vitality into efforts to build a community with a shared future for mankind.
