This summer, a grassroot basketball tournament called the Village BA, held in Dongshan county, in Zhangzhou city, Fujian province, became a sporting phenomenon, attracting both locals and tourists.

The third Dongshan Village BA, which began on July 5, featured 51 teams that were named after local seafood. The Sufeng Community Ray team clinched victory against the Wulong Village Tiger and Shark team in the grand final on Aug 20, with a decisive score of 64-44.

Community spirit brings unity

The charm of the Village BA lies in the fact that it gets the entire village moving, with the tournament evolving into a symbol of community spirit and pride.

In fact, a prime example of this was the Ma'an Village Golden Pomfret team, which united two previously separate villages, Qianma and Houma, into one. "This is more than a game; it's a reunion for our village," said the Party branch secretary of Qianma village.

Widespread engagement with enthusiasm

The Dongshan Village BA was livestreamed by local media, attracting 45,000 online viewers for the final alone. Shen Zhixiong, a passionate 44-year-old player from Aojiao village, voluntarily livestreamed the games, highlighting the event as a "window to showcase Dongshan".

Local flavor, excitement

The tournament's success was largely due to the enthusiastic support of the villagers. From July 5 to Aug 20, over 200 games were organized, with audiences bringing drums and props to cheer for their teams.

The lively atmosphere not only engaged locals, but also attracted tourists. Fang Xiaoling, a visitor from Zhejiang province, decided to extend her stay to experience the final, moved by the community's energy and zeal.

Tourists further ramped up the event's popularity, sharing their experiences on social media and expanding the reach of the Dongshan Village BA.

The tournament is widely said to reflect the community's enthusiasm, the charm of the local culture and the vitality of rural industries.