Pompoms and Nunchucks: Cheerleading With Chinese Characteristics
Cheerleading in China was nonexistent, but now nation has thousands of squads.
BEIJING, July 21, 2008 -- Li Xue cheers with pompoms and megaphones. She can also dance with nun chucks and silk fans . The quintessentially American sport of cheerleading has arrived in China — and Li is high-kicking her way straight to Olympic glory.
Less than a decade ago, cheerleading did not even exist in China. But next month, it will take center stage at one of the most newsworthy Olympics in recent memory.
Inspired by the National Basketball Association, the Chinese Basketball Association replaced amateur dancers with professional cheerleaders to entertain crowds starting in 2002. As with many new phenomena in China, cheerleading began growing exponentially.
When Li Xue began cheering six years ago, the concept of cheerleading was almost entirely unknown in China.
"I saw a bulletin at my university advertising the selection of a national cheerleading team," Li explained to ABC News. "At the time, I wasn't sure what cheerleading was. But I liked to dance and watch basketball so I went to try out. I really had no idea because in China, there was no culture for this."
Li, 24, not only made the national team, but is one of the pioneers of Chinese cheerleading, becoming captain of one of the premier teams in Beijing.
Today, from the capitol of Beijing, to the far-flung deserts of Xinjiang Province, thousands of cheerleading squads have popped up on the sidelines of sports events. The cheerleaders aren't just dancers either. Students, investment bankers, teachers, and former flight attendants make up the cheerleading squads. In August, 600 volunteer cheerleaders, chosen through a competitive selection process, will take their biggest stage yet at the Beijing Olympics.
Go China Go!
To prepare and polish China's Olympic cheerleaders in time for the games, the local organizing committee brought in the experts: the New England Patriots cheerleading squad.
Patriots director of cheerleading Tracy Sormanti knows a world stage when she sees one. Having been a part of three Super Bowl Championships with the Patriots, she believes the Beijing Olympics is a golden opportunity for China's cheerleaders.
