On April 6, Sichuan parkour athlete Wang Zijian disappeared after jumping 30 meters off the Tuojiang River to challenge himself. Eight days later, Wang Zijian’s body was found 11 kilometers away from the diving spot. His family was devastated, and the incident shocked the nation.
Professionals interviewed by our reporter pointed out that extreme sports involve many unpredictable factors, and cases of injuries and emergencies are increasing. All relevant parties should provide participants with necessary risk warnings; as individuals with full civil capacity, participants should also be responsible for their own actions.
Strengthen industry guidance and tighten the “safety rope” for outdoor sports
In recent years, some sports that combine outdoor exploration, tourism, and fitness—such as car rallies, skateboarding, skiing, mountaineering, parkour, and bicycle climbing—have become fashionable pursuits among Chinese people. However, the high risks of outdoor extreme sports and the lack of professional knowledge among participants have also led to an increase in injuries and fatalities. On September 30, 2011, a 14-member outdoor mountaineering team entered the Haizi Valley of Siguniang Mountain in Aba Prefecture, Sichuan, and lost contact with the outside world, only to be rescued 13 days later; on June 8, 2010, 10 “travelers” from Beijing encountered danger while crossing the Xiate Ancient Trail in Xinjiang, resulting in one female traveler’s death and eight injuries; in 2009, a 35-member DIY tour group in Chongqing suddenly faced a mountain flood while crossing the Tan Zhang Gorge, leading to 17 fatalities...
“Extreme sports are infinitely charming, but risks are always present. After accidents occur, it’s often unclear who is responsible or difficult to assign liability, which leaves extreme sports enthusiasts and professionals feeling helpless and also hinders the healthy development of the sport,” Zheng Xiaobo, senior video editor of Sina Sports, told our reporter.
In some European and American countries, extreme explorers must undergo a series of professional trainings—including geographical knowledge and self-rescue in dangerous environments—before embarking on expeditions. However, some amateur “enthusiasts” in China often act rashly out of a passion to conquer nature without any professional training. Zheng Xiaobo believes this poses a huge safety threat.
“In some economically developed countries, professional institutions provide repeated safety guidance to enthusiasts, and established rescue organizations composed of professionals from various fields can quickly respond to incidents. Their emergency mechanisms are worth learning from,” Zheng Xiaobo said. He believes that what Chinese government departments urgently need to do now is strengthen guidance and regulation of the outdoor extreme sports industry, establish industry safety standards as soon as possible, implement qualification certification and access systems for adventure organizers, promote credible outdoor sports certifications, and thereby tighten the “safety rope” of outdoor sports.
Challenging limits should be done within one’s capabilities
After the death of parkour athlete Wang Zijian during his Tuojiang jump, his mother criticized onlookers for not fulfilling their duty to rescue. CCTV’s News Weekly reviewed the incident comprehensively, and host Bai Yansong concluded: “It’s understandable to condemn the bystanders and photographers, but the reasoning is not sufficient. Wang Zijian didn’t jump to commit suicide; it was a performance and challenge without considering the consequences. Without boundaries, extreme sports can sometimes be a form of suicide. Everyone has the right to pursue individuality and novelty, but the baseline should be reverence for life.”
Li Peng, a senior legal advisor for sports activities, told our reporter that Wang Zijian’s action was spontaneous. “If it were an organized outdoor activity, the organizer would be responsible for giving necessary risk warnings and dissuading participants from risky behavior.”
Zheng Xiaobo reminded everyone that when engaging in outdoor sports, one should clearly understand their own capabilities and whether they are fit to participate. “When joining an extreme sports group, it’s important to sign necessary contracts with the organizer, especially when paying to take part in outdoor extreme sports—you must clearly define the rights and obligations of both parties. It’s also advisable to purchase accident insurance when necessary to protect your own interests.”
Regulations in the field of extreme sports need to be further refined
Currently, there is no specific legislation in China governing the field of outdoor sports. Safety incidents arising from outdoor sports activities are mainly regulated under the Tort Liability Law. Regarding the legal risks associated with these sports, Li Peng categorized them into two types: “For commercial outdoor sports, where participants pay fees to the organizer, a travel contract or entrustment contract relationship is formed between the participant and the organizer. The organizer has certain contractual obligations and responsibilities toward the participants, such as ensuring the safety of the outdoor activities and the personal safety of the participants. If a safety accident occurs due to the organizer’s fault, the organizer should bear the corresponding breach of contract liability.”
Li Peng added: “For non-commercial outdoor sports, if an accident occurs due to the organizer’s erroneous command, resulting in participant injuries or fatalities, the organizer should compensate the victims according to tort liability principles. If the accident is not due to the organizer but other causes, then as individuals with full civil capacity, participants should bear some responsibility for the outcome. In litigation, judges may, based on the principle of equitable liability, rule that the organizer bear a certain degree of compensation responsibility.”
“From national and local levels, only when relevant laws and regulations are truly refined and improved, clubs operate and obtain qualifications in a standardized manner, and professional training mechanisms for outdoor exploration enthusiasts are well-established, can outdoor sports move onto the right track. Only when everyone values life and acts within their abilities can extreme sports develop healthily and widely,” said Li Peng.