On November 25, the press conference for the 2017 “Longjian Cup” International Ice and Snow Crawling Open was grandly held at the National Aquatics Center, also known as the Water Cube. The “Longjian Cup” International Ice and Snow Crawling Open is the first official competition for the sport of crawling in China. It is jointly organized by the Heilongjiang Ice and Snow Industry Research Institute and the Heilongjiang Social Sports Guidance Center, with full title sponsorship and support from Longjian Road & Bridge Co., Ltd., and assistance from Cabrin Ski. The event will be held in multiple locations including Yichun Taoshan, Harbin Wanda, and Harbin Yabuli, attracting crawling enthusiasts from both home and abroad.
In recent years, mass-participation sports represented by marathons have gained widespread popularity, being held in many regions across the country. These events not only ignite public enthusiasm for physical fitness but also serve as a model for organizing nationwide sporting events. Amid the fervor of national fitness, the launch of the first officially organized, mass-participation crawling event is sure to capture the attention of society and become a focal point for the media.
Crawling is not limited by seasons, offering flexible timing for competitions that can be held in both summer and winter. In addition to utilizing existing indoor and outdoor sports venues, summer events can adopt an ecological theme, while winter ones can embrace an ice and snow theme—hosting unique events such as grassland crawling or snowy terrain crawling. In July 2016, the Heilongjiang Ice and Snow Industry Research Institute held the “First International Eco-Crawling Invitation Tournament” at the renowned sports and tourism destination of Yabuli. The event received unanimous praise from university students, faculty, and international guests, far exceeding the organizers’ expectations and further solidifying their confidence in promoting the sport.
According to modern sports theory, the basic physical qualities of the human body are categorized into strength, speed, endurance, flexibility, and agility. Crawling happens to be an effective exercise method that comprehensively enhances all five qualities. As an emerging form of fitness activity, crawling can trace its origins back to the “Five Animal Frolics” (Tiger Play and Deer Play) created by the famous Eastern Han Dynasty physician Hua Tuo. Based on traditional Chinese medicine principles, these exercises mimic the movements and postures of animals. Studies have found that crawling offers health benefits, is suitable for long-term practice, and can address various issues arising from prolonged upright posture. It serves as a form of “natural therapy” that allows people to reconnect with their innate instincts and return to simplicity.
The “Longjian Cup” International Ice and Snow Crawling Open is an ice and snow sporting event developed through years of research by Dr. Zhang Guihai, Director of the Heilongjiang Ice and Snow Industry Research Institute, and his team, and holds fully independent intellectual property rights. Currently, the Heilongjiang Ice and Snow Industry Research Institute is advancing the serialized research of crawling competitions. This marks the highest-level sporting event for crawling to date and also signals the official launch of an innovative, highly entertaining vertical crawling race brand. The creation of a nationwide vertical crawling event that combines sports, culture, and entertainment is just around the corner.
At present, crawling remains a niche form of exercise. The organizers hope that through the promotion and publicity of the crawling races—as well as by bringing the sport into universities, communities, and homes—they can help the public fully recognize the fitness and wellness benefits of this easy-to-learn activity. Their goal is to allow more people to enjoy the health advantages of crawling. In the foreseeable future, as crawling gains wider popularity and increases its domestic and international influence, crawling competitions will play a unique role in enhancing national soft power.
In recent years, Heilongjiang has leveraged its advantageous conditions of ice and snow to strengthen the integration of ice and snow sports and tourism. While preparing to welcome and compete in the Winter Olympics, the province has expanded mass-participation ice and snow activities and actively participated in introducing and innovating ice and snow competitions. The International Ice and Snow Crawling Open is based on a market philosophy that emphasizes large participation, wide engagement, and extensive viewership. It greatly enriches opportunities for the public to take part in ice and snow events and provides more choices and a larger platform for enjoying ice and snow activities.
Heilongjiang is a major province for ice and snow sports in China. By 2022, the province plans to have 20 million local participants in mass ice and snow sports activities and attract 50 million participants from outside the province. With strong government support, the International Ice and Snow Crawling Open has actively engaged social forces. It has not only launched a highly participatory snow-themed branded event but also achieved the goals of promoting public health and advancing the sports industry, realizing a double harvest of social and economic benefits.