International Rafting Federation President Joe Willie Jones (second from left) discusses with local organizers during his trip to Yushu, Qinghai province in April to assess the natural conditions for hosting the IRF World Cup series. (Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn)
Quake-hit Yushu Tibetan autonomous prefecture in Northwest China's Qinghai province is rebuilding its image — as a fledging outdoor sports and tourism destination — by hosting an international white-water rafting event.
Yushu, which was hit by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake that killed more than 2,000 people in April 2010, will demonstrate the extent of its recovery by welcoming world rafting enthusiasts between July 15 and 22. They will compete in the International Rafting Federation's World Cup series, organizers announced on Tuesday.
Rafting is a widely recognized recreational outdoor sport that involves participants using inflatable boats to navigate fast-flowing rivers and other bodies of water.
The event in Yushu will be the second leg of the three-stop 2016 World Cup series, a Level C IRF competition that is open to male and female rafters from around the world. Participants will race in four disciplines: the sprint, H2H (head-to-head), the slalom, and downriver.
After visiting Yushu to carry out technical assessments in April, IRF president Joe Willie Jones left the high-altitude prefecture impressed with the ideal conditions of the Tongtian River, a main upper source of the Yangtze River.
"The water volume, flow velocity and vertical drop of the river are good enough to provide a technically challenging course for the competition," Jones said. "Here, we will make history by rafting on the highest possible course in the world."
Located at an average altitude of 4,200 meters, Yushu is linked to the Tibetan plateau and extends to about 720,000 square kilometers. It has a population of approximately 5.7 million people. Half of its residents are from the Tibetan, Hui and Mongolian ethnic groups.
The picturesque plateau scenery and exotic ethnic culture of Yushu will impress rafting enthusiasts from around the world, said Jones who predicted many people will visit the area in the future as a result.
Although event organizers have not set technical entry barriers for participants, each person taking part will need to present a medical certificate proving he or she is physically and mentally capable of rafting in extreme conditions, according to IRF rules.
The local organizing committee will provide boats for participants, for which rafters will pay a refundable deposit of $100. Rescue and first aid services will be provided and the event will be staffed by IRF representatives and local medical teams.
As the prefecture strives to revitalize the local economy and boost social development after both were badly damaged by the earthquake, the rafting event offers a chance for local people to show the world a vibrant new image, said Tashi Tsering, the mayor of Yushu.
"By hosting this event, we are eager to send a clear statement that Yushu has stood up again and we will make all efforts to guarantee the smooth operation of the race," he said.
The Aquatic Sports Administrative Center of China also announced on Tuesday that it and the local government have approved the building of a national high-altitude training base for rafting.
"The IRF's endorsement presents proof that Yushu is capable of becoming a hub for recreational and athletic rafting in China," said Li Quanhai, director of the center. "We would love to see the sport gain a foothold here."
