China's Village Super League resumes after floods

GUIYANG, July 26 (Xinhua) -- China's Village Super League, also known as Cun Chao, resumed in Rongjiang County, Guizhou province on Saturday after a month-long suspension caused by catastrophic flooding, marking a significant step in local recovery efforts.

The reopening event, themed "Gratitude and Resilience: Guizhou's Super Power," featured football matches and a dedicated reconstruction appreciation ceremony. It follows devastating floods that struck Rongjiang County - the birthplace of the grassroots football phenomenon - on June 24 and 28.

The event commenced at 14:00 local time and featured four matches. During the event, there were also charity performances. International football legends Roberto Baggio and Roberto Carlos made evening appearances, energizing the crowd.

Post-match activities saw a "Gratitude Parade" with local residents alongside national rescue and reconstruction teams. This preceded a special appreciation ceremony acknowledging support received during the disaster.

"Restarting VSL today embodies our profound thanks for nationwide solidarity during the crisis," said Xu Bo, Party Chief of Rongjiang County. "This experience has deepened the league's spirit around a culture of gratitude."

Critical infrastructure including water, power, communications and major roads in Rongjiang is now largely restored. Over 96 percent of hospitality businesses near the venue had reopened by Friday, ready for the league's resumption. ■