16 cheerleading teams to perform during Beijing Olympics

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Source: CCTV.com | 01-28-2008 10:29

A national competition of cheerleading gymnastics wrapped up in Beijing. The six-month contest is to select cheerleading teams for the Olympics. Thirty teams made it to the final.

The moves in cheerleading are usually highly stylized,  reflecting the latest in dance.

The moves in cheerleading are usually highly stylized, reflecting the latest in dance. But not always in China.

Dances of the country's minorities were mixed into Friday's event. Traditions of the Li from Yunnan Province, the Uygur from Xinjiang and Mongolians were all represented.

The Beijing team performed "Red Silk Dance" and Yangge. The capital also provided the only male cheerleading team. They combined martial arts and acrobatics.

Lou Yun, deputy director of China Cheerleading Association, said, "By combining the dances of Chinese minorities with their cheerleading gymnastics, the teams achieve their debuts for the cheerleading with Chinese characteristics."

The Jiangxi University of Science and Technology were the champions. Olympic organizers will select 16 teams from the participants, who might get the chance to perform during the Beijing Games.