Chapter 52 May Day teachings will never be forgotten

On the 90th anniversary of the birth of Comrade Zhou Enlai, all the comrades on the sports front deeply miss this great proletarian revolutionist who has left us for 12 years, the leader of the party and state admired and loved by the Chinese people, and the leader of China's socialist sports cause. Initiators and guides. Comrade Zhou Enlai worked hard for the party, the country, and the people, dedicated his life, and worked hard all his life.While undertaking the heavy work of the party and the country and taking care of numerous opportunities, he also devoted a lot of effort to the construction and development of my country's socialist sports.Comrade Zhou Enlai proposed to the Central People's Government to create a national sports leadership organization, support the construction of various sports facilities, establish sports newspapers, establish sports colleges and scientific research institutions.He is very concerned about creating a red and professional sports team, and cares about and loves outstanding athletes.

On the major issues in the development of the sports industry, it was Comrade Zhou Enlai who distinguished right from wrong, pointed out the direction, and inspired fighting spirit, which made this cause flourish. Sports has long existed in human social life, and it also has a long history and rich content in our country.However, it was after the founding of the People's Republic of China that it was regarded as an important cause and placed in an important position.The party and the state are very concerned about the health of the people. From the very beginning, they have determined that the socialist sports cause should strengthen the people's physique, enrich the cultural life of the masses, and cultivate a new generation of people with all-round development of morality, intelligence and body. In 1949, in the "Common Program" of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, it was clearly stipulated that the state had the task of "promoting national sports". , juveniles, children in the moral, intellectual, physical and other aspects of comprehensive development" clause.

The older generation of proletarian revolutionaries attaches great importance to the development of sports.Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out at the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China that sports is a major event related to the health of 600 million people, "to develop sports and enhance people's physical fitness".Comrade Zhou Enlai was an enthusiastic advocate and guide.As the Prime Minister of the Government Administration Council, he firmly grasped the correct direction of developing socialist sports, formulated career development plans, made timely requests, issued instructions, and resolved various difficulties in work.

In 1952, Comrade Zhou Enlai proposed that the Central People's Government establish a sports committee to lead the national sports cause.He and Comrade Deng Xiaoping recommended and promoted Comrade He Long to serve as the director of the Sports Committee.This measure ensures that the development of sports has become one of the important tasks of the country from an organizational perspective.In the same year, with the support of Comrade Zhou Enlai, radio gymnastics activities were carried out nationwide. In 1954, according to the instructions of Comrade Zhou Enlai, the Government Affairs Council made a decision to carry out work exercises and other sports in government agencies.These measures have played a huge role in promoting the widespread development of mass sports.At a government affairs meeting in the same year, Comrade Zhou Enlai emphasized that a healthy body is needed to develop production and strengthen national defense.The development of sports is for the advancement of the country and the world, not just for personal health.The people have a high degree of political awareness, but also need to have a healthy body, in order to effectively carry out socialist revolution and construction, and strengthen national defense forces.

In September 1956, Comrade Zhou Enlai made a report on the proposals for the second five-year plan for the development of the national economy at the Eighth National Congress of the Communist Party of China.He said that we should further carry out sports among the broad masses, effectively enhance the people's physique, and improve the level of sports in our country.When carrying out sports, it must be carried out in a differentiated and step-by-step manner according to the specific conditions and physical conditions of the people's production, work, and study, so as to avoid the problems of excessive demands, haste, and generalization.These guiding ideologies are implemented in the development of sports in our country.

Comrade Zhou Enlai repeatedly instructed the leading comrades of the National Sports Commission to mobilize workers, farmers, businessmen and students to participate in sports activities.He has a special interest in school sports.Zeng said: "School physical education must start from an early age. I was weak since I was a child, and I received national physical education education when I was young. I often exercised in Nankai Middle School and my health has improved."He believes that two hours of physical education in schools per week is not enough, and students should have one hour of physical exercise every day, so as to ensure their health.As for rural sports, Comrade Zhou Enlai said that there are only a few million people who regularly take part in physical exercise, and the team is not large, but hundreds of millions.In the past, the problems were basically in the cities, and the problems were in the countryside.It must be carried out to every township and every commune.Popularizing school sports and rural sports is a far-sighted strategic idea that is more realistic today.

Comrade Zhou Enlai pointed out very brilliantly that the development of sports work enables the people to have a healthy body. "This is not only the material basis, but also spiritual power."It points out the role of sports in building material civilization and spiritual civilization.He also used this to educate and encourage sports workers and athletes to dedicate themselves to the development of the sports cause of the motherland. In the early 1950s, a comrade who studied engineering, obeyed the needs, and transferred to the sports front to work as a coach. He regretted the transfer.Comrade Zhou Enlai said to him kindly: "It is right to obey the needs of work. But it is not enough. We must love socialist sports. In our country, sports work is a very honorable and promising job."It was under the encouragement and care of Comrade Zhou Enlai and other proletarian revolutionaries of the older generation that our country's sports workers and athletes worked hard and struggled hard to turn the sports industry, which was originally very backward and had a very weak foundation, in a not too long period of time. Here, a new situation has been created. In the early 1960s, hundreds of millions of people in our country regularly participated in sports activities, created world records in some events, won the world championship, and took off the humiliating hat of "sick man of East Asia" on the heads of the Chinese people.

During the ten-year turbulent "Cultural Revolution", my country's sports industry was almost killed by Lin Biao and the "Gang of Four".Comrade He Long, the pioneer of my country's socialist sports cause, and a large number of cadres loyal to the people's sports cause were persecuted, sports workers and athletes were humiliated and attacked, and the sports front was accused of "engaging in revisionism."At this very difficult moment, Comrade Zhou Enlai justly pointed out that "the achievements of the sports front are the main ones, and the correct line dominates." "The vast majority of athletes are good. They were cultivated by Mao Zedong Thought and we cultivated them. Don't deny yourself." In July 1971, Comrade Zhou Enlai made a personal revision in a report on sports work, emphasizing that "Chairman Mao's revolutionary line still dominates the masses and most cadres on the sports front, and achievements are the main thing."In the chaotic situation across the country at that time, Comrade Zhou Enlai's instruction spread like wildfire. Comrades on the sports front were like drinking nectar, and comrades on other fronts also saw a ray of sunshine amidst the clouds.

In sports work, there are different views on whether to vigorously train outstanding athletes, whether to improve sports skills to climb to the peak of the world, or whether to strive for excellent results in international sports competitions.There are also different theories and schools of thought in the international sports world.The socialist sports cause not only needs to mobilize millions of people to take part in physical exercises to improve their health and build up their physique; To promote the prestige of the country and inspire the hearts of the people. Comrade Zhou Enlai also clearly instructed us to unswervingly implement this correct policy. At the Second National People's Congress in April 1959, he proposed in the "Government Work Report": "In sports work, the policy of combining popularization and improvement should be implemented, mass sports should be carried out extensively, and gradually Improve the level of sports in our country".On many occasions, he encouraged Chinese youth to make great achievements in sports, encouraged Chinese athletes to become the world's top players, to win in international sports competitions, and to honor the great socialist motherland.

In January 1957, Comrade Zhou Enlai visited the Soviet Union. When he met with outstanding Soviet athletes in the Kremlin, he praised Soviet athletes for having many world record creators and world champions.He said that ten years later, Chinese athletes will also make great achievements, and he hopes that Chinese and Soviet athletes will advance together.He cared for and encouraged Chinese athletes to climb the technical peak of world sports in many ways, and asked to "have the motherland in mind, look at the world, have a fiery heart, and contribute all the energy of the whole body." In October 1957, Comrade Zhou Enlai personally went to the Beijing Institute of Physical Education to watch the athletes' training competitions.Zheng Fengrong hit the world record in the women's high jump, but failed because of being too nervous.Comrade Zhou Enlai was happy that the young contestants had ambitions, so he specially gave Zheng Fengrong a bouquet of flowers, and said cordially, you are still young, and there is still a long time to go!Zheng Fengrong was greatly encouraged. In less than a month, she jumped 1.77 meters, breaking the world record for women's high jump held by an American athlete at that time, and became the first woman's world record creator in my country.

Comrade Zhou Enlai regarded the outstanding achievements of Chinese athletes as one of the signs of the prosperity of the country and the efforts of the younger generation, and he praised them with great enthusiasm. In April 1959, Chinese table tennis player Rong Guotuan won the men's singles world championship in the 25th World Table Tennis Championships. Comrades Zhou Enlai, He Long and Chen Yi personally celebrated the return of the table tennis players.Comrade Zhou Enlai's impromptu speech was earnest and meaningful, which greatly encouraged the passion of Chinese athletes to catch up with the world level and win glory for the country.Comrade Zhou Enlai talked about old China's political corruption, backward economy, poor people's life, Chinese athletes were looked down upon in international sports competitions, and now we have world record creators and world champions, proving that Chinese youth under the leadership of the Communist Party, Have the ability to stand on their own among the nations of the world.He earnestly told the athletes: "Don't be arrogant when you win, don't be discouraged when you lose, practice hard, and live forever."Comrade Zhou Enlai mentioned that because he opposed the creation of "two Chinas" in international sports organizations, my country withdrew from the International Olympic Committee and other international sports organizations, so he could not participate in international sports competitions. It is a blockbuster. Eight years, nine years... We will always enter the Olympics. Now prepare our strength, work hard, and shine in the world in ten years!" These words of great vision and foresight have inspired generations of our country Athletes study hard, work hard and fight bravely to win in international competitions. In 1984, Chinese athletes took part in the International Olympic Games again and won 15 gold medals in one fell swoop, breaking the record of "zero" and showing great splendor, which can comfort Comrade Zhou Enlai. Comrade Zhou Enlai also often taught us that we should not only see a few outstanding athletes, but also train thousands of outstanding athletes.We must learn from the advanced experience and technology of all countries in the world, we must learn from the advanced technology and experience of the East, and we should also learn from the advanced experience and technology of the West.Only in this way can it prosper. In September 1959, the first National Games was held in Beijing. Comrade Zhou Enlai went to the venue to watch the athletes in person. Jiang Yumin, a Chinese female sprinter, won three championships in the 100, 200, and 400 meters, which was also the national record for these events. Holder.While congratulating Jiang Yumin, Comrade Zhou Enlai said humorously: "It's not a good sign that you keep three national records alone! Sports competitions require talents to emerge in large numbers, and the waves behind the waves push forward the waves ahead, so as to rapidly improve the level of sports technology in our country. You should train more outstanding athletes to compete with you for the championship." With the proposal and support of Comrade Zhou Enlai, it is a remarkable thing to invite Omatsu Hirobumi, the world-renowned Japanese volleyball coach in the 1960s, to train the Chinese women's volleyball team. In 1964, before China and Japan resumed diplomatic relations, Hirobumi Omatsu led the Japanese women's volleyball team to visit my country.Comrade Zhou Enlai heard about his strict training methods and set an example. He visited the site twice, met Da Song, praised his hard-working spirit and strict and difficult training methods, and invited Da Song Bowen to give a demonstration training to the Chinese women's volleyball team.He also said to the person in charge of the Sports Commission and the volleyball community: "Dasong's training is in line with the spirit of practice theory and the training principles of being difficult, strict, and based on actual combat needs. We must learn from Dasong and surpass Japan. Coaches must teach by example. Teaching is more important than words.” Learning from the strengths of all countries in the world and using them for my own use is an important experience in developing various undertakings in our country, including sports.The Chinese women's volleyball team was able to advance by leaps and bounds later, and won the honor of "five consecutive championships" that attracted worldwide attention in the 1980s, which was inseparable from the care of Comrade Zhou Enlai in the 1960s. Chinese athletes and sports workers will never forget that in 1969, when the ultra-left trend of thought was rampant, some people described participating in international sports competitions as "serving the emperor, repairing, and anti-carrying the sedan chair" and engaging in "surrenderism and traitorism". Athletes who have won honor for their motherland in international sports competitions are said to be "revisionist seedlings."Comrade Zhou Enlai pointed out righteously: "This is to win glory for the motherland! They don't want patriotism, we still want patriotism!" It was the spirit of patriotism cultivated by Comrade Zhou Enlai and the older generation of proletarian revolutionaries that ignited sports The fire of hope for comrades on the front who are constantly advancing towards new heights. Comrade Zhou Enlai was a great proletarian internationalist and an outstanding diplomat who won the love and admiration of the people of the world.He has always advocated and taught us to attach importance to and strengthen international sports exchanges, serve our country's diplomatic line and policies, and serve to strengthen friendship with people of other countries and enhance mutual understanding. In July 1952, the 15th Olympic Games was held in Helsinki, Finland.Comrade Zhou Enlai supported the request of the sports world to send athletes to participate in the Olympic Games.But at that time, certain forces in the International Olympic Committee attempted to obstruct the legitimate rights and interests of the Chinese people and Chinese athletes.After a determined struggle, finally two days before the opening of the Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee issued an invitation.Comrade Zhou Enlai personally inquired about this matter and made a decision to send a delegation to participate.He instructed in the middle of the night before the delegation's departure that hoisting the five-star red flag at the Olympics is a victory.If you can't catch up with the official competition, you can have a friendly competition, and you must actively participate in friendly activities.Following the instructions of Comrade Zhou Enlai, the Chinese sports delegation expressed its friendly feelings to the people of the world and athletes from all over the world, and received a warm welcome. Comrade Zhou Enlai inspired us to have a high degree of principle and flexibility to proceed from reality in dealing with the complicated situations in international sports activities. In the early 1950s, after some people in the International Olympic Committee agreed to restore my country's legal seat in the Olympic Committee, they inserted Taiwan into the International Olympic Committee under the name of "Republic of China Olympic Committee".Comrade Zhou Enlai solemnly pointed out that in international sports organizations, we must persist in opposing the conspiracy of "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan". meeting.On matters of principle, we cannot make concessions, let alone compromise, and must fight resolutely.But this kind of struggle should be based on presenting facts and reasoning. In 1955, Mr. Dong Shouyi, who was the Chinese member of the International Olympic Committee at that time, published an article in the "People's Daily" explaining my position against the "two Chinas" principle after attending the International Olympic Committee Congress. Comrade read this article and personally praised Mr. Dong Shouyi for doing a good job.By 1958, individual leaders of the International Olympic Committee at that time insisted on their mistakes and used various methods to create "two Chinas" in the International Olympic Committee. Under the decision of Comrade Zhou Enlai and the Central Committee, after discussion by the Chinese Olympic Committee , decided to withdraw from the IOC, breaking ties with it.At the same time, sports exchanges with third world countries have been carried out extensively. In 1963, with the encouragement and support of Comrade Zhou Enlai and other leading comrades of the party and the country, our country and many countries in the third world organized a grand "emerging power games" in Jakarta, Indonesia.This is a powerful blow to the imperialists' attempt to monopolize international sports affairs. Comrade Zhou Enlai also instructed us to take an attitude of respect and concern for sports figures and athletes in Taiwan. In 1959, they were invited to Beijing to participate in the first National Games; when meeting Taiwanese sports figures and athletes in international sports activities, they should be treated with courtesy; when participating in the 7th Asian Games in 1974, Taiwan athletes were invited to compete with mainland athletes Form a unified sports delegation together, reserve a certain number of places for them, and so on.These were all decided by Comrade Zhou Enlai, and some of them were proposed by him. In 1979, the International Olympic Committee restored the legal seat of the Chinese Olympic Committee. The Olympic Committee in Taipei, under the principle of "changing the name, changing the flag and changing the song", as a local sports organization in China, took the name of "China The name of "Taipei Olympic Committee" remains in the International Olympic Committee, so that Taiwan's athletes also have the opportunity to participate in international sports competitions.The solution to this problem is due to changes in the international situation, the leaders of the International Olympic Committee have adopted a wise attitude, and it is also because our sports circles have combined principles and flexibility in the struggle based on the guidelines formulated by Comrade Zhou Enlai during his lifetime. rise up results. Regarding the participation of Chinese athletes in international sports competitions, Comrade Zhou Enlai emphasized that "friendship is more important than competition", they must have the spirit of internationalism, and oppose small movements, arrogance, and lack of discipline. In March 1963, Comrade Zhou Enlai said when he received the athletes participating in the 27th World Table Tennis Championships, "Friendship is more important than competition, which is my all-time proposition. We must play in style. The style of the proletariat, the style of the revolution. The good style Fight for the friendship of revolutionary comrades, the friendship of working people, and the friendship of athletes from all over the world.” "The greatest success is not only in the superiority of technology, but in the influence of politics."Comrade Zhou Enlai pointed out that international sports competitions are people-to-people exchanges, which contain friendship.Do not engage in great-power chauvinism, and do not become a superpower.He pays great attention to the style of athletes on the field, and criticizes bad atmosphere and lax discipline very severely.Once the Chinese women's volleyball team and the Japanese women's volleyball team competed. When the radio introduced the players of both sides to the audience, the Japanese players immediately stopped practicing as soon as they heard their names, and raised their hands to salute the audience, while our athletes did not show any sign.Comrade Zhou Enlai called the leader of my women's volleyball team to the rostrum on the spot, and asked the team members to line up again for the roll call and greet the audience.He said that if you don't respect the masses, don't know how to be polite, and don't respect each other, a proud soldier will lose.Athletes are free and undisciplined, it is the leader's responsibility. Comrades on the sports front deeply feel that Comrade Zhou Enlai is a model of proletarian internationalism. With his keen insight, enthusiasm and excellent diplomatic skills, he has made international sports exchanges a bridge to strengthen friendship and enhance understanding. In 1961, the Japanese table tennis team came to my country for the first time to participate in the World Championships. They didn't know China well, and their actions were very restrained.Comrade Zhou Enlai discovered this situation, personally hosted a banquet for the Japanese table tennis delegation, and said to them: Chinese and Japanese athletes should strengthen exchanges, you come one year, we go one year, and "be friendly from generation to generation."This moved the Japanese athletes deeply.In the following ten or twenty years, quite a few of them sincerely did a lot of work to strengthen the friendship between the Chinese and Japanese peoples. In the early 1970s, it was a time when all horses were silent, and international sports exchanges basically came to a standstill.Comrade Mao Zedong and Comrade Zhou Enlai made a decision that Chinese table tennis players will go to Nagoya, Japan to participate in the 31st World Table Tennis Championships, so as to reopen the situation of international sports exchanges.At that time, there were opponents in China, and there were also factors that were extremely unfavorable to me abroad, and the thoughts of athletes were also full of concerns.Comrade Zhou Enlai talked with the person in charge of the Sports Commission and the athletes all night, did political and ideological work in depth and meticulously, and encouraged everyone to undertake this task with the revolutionary spirit of "not afraid of hardship and not afraid of death".Comrade Zhou Enlai personally directed this international sports activity, which not only opened up the situation of international sports exchanges, but also invited the American table tennis team participating in the World Championships to visit China, opening the door to the relationship between China and the United States that had been separated for more than 20 years. , became the first to normalize the diplomatic relations between the two countries.This is the "ping-pong diplomacy" that people later called "a small ball turned the earth". Since then, under the personal intervention of Comrade Zhou Enlai, the Asian-African Table Tennis Friendship Invitational Tournament was held in Beijing, the Asian Table Tennis Federation was established, and the first Asian Table Tennis Championship was held. In September 1973, a large-scale Asia-Africa-Latin America Table Tennis Friendship Invitational Tournament was held, with more than 1,100 athletes from 86 countries and regions participating.These were the difficult times when the "Gang of Four" was rampant. Comrade Zhou Enlai devoted himself to maintaining and developing the links between China and other countries in the world, especially the third world countries, through sports. Comrade Zhou Enlai did a lot of friendly work to friends and athletes in the sports circles of various countries during his lifetime. His humility, kindness, frankness, kindness, and equal treatment of others, his broad mind and vision, profound knowledge and legendary experience have won the hearts of all countries. heart of friends. When Comrade Zhou Enlai passed away, a reporter from "Asahi Shimbun" interviewed the famous Japanese table tennis player Matsuzaki Jundai.According to the report, the former world champion Kurimoto (Matsuzaki) Jundai greeted the sky from a distance.Ms. Jundai, who met Premier Zhou because of the opportunity of sports exchange, was loved by Premier Zhou like a daughter or niece even after she was no longer a player because of her correct style and competition attitude.After Jun Dai got married, Premier Zhou heard that she had never given birth, so he expressed his concern and invited her to Beijing for examination and treatment by a doctor.This is an outstanding politician who led the Chinese revolution and a Japanese woman known as the "Queen of Table Tennis", exchanging feelings across the sea.Ms. Jun Dai said with tears: "At that time, I was also told that if I had a child, I should inform you as soon as possible, but..." Ms. Jun Dai's voice was choked. Only the words and deeds of a great internationalist can produce such a simple and profound affection in the hearts of people of foreign countries and races. Comrade Zhou Enlai was once like a huge magnet, attracting tens of thousands of cadres and masses who had come into contact with him and those who had not.He taught us to work together from all walks of life.When the State Sports Commission was established, Comrade Zhou Enlai proposed that General Cai Tingpin, a famous anti-Japanese general, well-known patriot, and vice chairman of the Kuomintang Revolutionary Committee, be the deputy director of the State Sports Commission.Later, patriots Lu Han and Huang Qixiang were appointed as deputy directors of the State Sports Commission.Comrades Zhou Enlai and Comrades He Long demanded that Communist Party members who are leading the work of the State Sports Commission should cooperate closely with non-Party people, respect their opinions, and play their role.During the "Cultural Revolution", most of the cadres, coaches and athletes of the State Sports Commission were sent to the "May 7th" cadre schools, farms, and factories to work.After Comrade Zhou Enlai learned about this situation, he told the staff in charge of the "Revolutionary Committee" of the Sports Commission at that time, you are liberated, forget about them.The cadres are at the bottom, so there is no need to look at them.Under his care, cadres and athletes in the sports system were "liberated" and returned to work earlier. It has been 12 years since Comrade Zhou Enlai left us.His voice, smile, great personality, noble character, and glorious image will remain in our hearts forever. Comrade Zhou Enlai's instructions on the use of Marxism and Mao Zedong Thought to guide the development of socialist revolution and construction, including his instructions and earnest teachings on sports work, are the precious wealth of the Chinese people. They not only inspired us in the past, but will continue to guide us in the future .