Chapter 43 Chapter Eleven Extraordinary 2007 (4)

The original intention of establishing this foundation is because of a problem that Li Ning has been thinking about.At that time, there were about 14,000 registered athletes in China's national team and provincial and municipal teams.Because athletes have received professional training since they were young, they cannot normally complete the education courses of ordinary schools. Many athletes lack the skills to earn a living after retiring, and it is difficult to find a job.Li Ning has already felt the loneliness and loss of retired athletes. After all, only a few can become dazzling stars. How can more retired athletes integrate into society?This kind of worry will affect the selection of players.Therefore, the purpose of this education fund is to face new challenges together with athletes and coaches, and to support and help them acquire professional knowledge and foreign language skills beyond their sports through the power of society, so that they can develop their own strengths At the same time, enhance the overall quality, help them adapt to the new working environment after leaving the arena, and live a healthy and happy life.For this purpose, Li Ning intends to carry out subsidized higher education training programs, pre-university remedial courses and special lectures.Li Ning’s worries are not superfluous. Five years after the foundation’s registration, in 2006, the national weightlifting champion Zou Chunlan, who broke the national record and world record, was exposed by the media to make a living by taking a bath in a public bathhouse in Changchun, his hometown. The couple lived in the bathroom to provide In the 5 square meter hut, lunch is cabbage and rice.The champion who once shined in the sports world only had a culture of less than the third grade of elementary school. After retiring, he fell into an extremely embarrassing situation in work and life. "China Youth Daily" on March 27, 2006, "Reflecting on the Disadvantages of Brokerage Sports from the "Tragedy of Zou Chunlan"" stated, "Retired athletes like Zou Chunlan are not rare in the Chinese sports circle, including Asian champions, World champions." In fact, Li Ning has always regarded athletes as his family before the establishment of the foundation.In July 1998, the athlete Sang Lan was accidentally injured during a vault practice at the 4th American Friendship Games.Later, the well-known sunny girl in a wheelchair in the sports world recalled that she and Li Ning met when they jointly served as love ambassadors for the 2002 Special Olympics.At that time, Li Ning heard that Sang Lan would change to a new environment and study at the School of Journalism and Communication of Peking University, so he said with concern: "Sang Lan is fine, we will help you." So, Li Ning returned to Beijing and took Sang Lan's parents with her. I went to see houses near Peking University, finally selected one, and planned to spend more than 3,000 yuan a month to help Sang Lan rent it for her study. "He said, don't worry, Sang Lan, Brother Li Ning will pay all the money for you." Sang Lan recalled with emotion.Although Sang Lan did not accept the gift in the end, when she recalled how Li Ning made her feel, she said: "He is a kind senior brother." This time, this senior gymnastics brother wants to help more people.In order to expand its influence, in October 2004, the China Athletes Education Foundation held its first event in Beijing, hosting the "First China Athletes Education Foundation Golf Charity Invitational Tournament".This is the first large-scale social activity after the foundation was established, not only to bring together caring people, but also to raise funds for the foundation.Li Ning invited nearly 40 famous Olympic and world champions such as Li Xiaoshuang, Li Dashuang, Li Chunyang, Ma Yanhong, Liu Guoliang, Jiang Jialiang, Cai Zhenhua, Li Yongbo, etc., which became a big gathering in the Chinese sports circle.Many sports stars later donated all the money to disabled children in Xinjiang.A year later, Li Ning and the China Sports Foundation once again held a charity golf tournament to raise funds for the China Athletes Education Foundation.This time not only was there still a large number of participants, but also successfully raised funds for the construction of Hope Primary School.

However, the funds raised are not enough to support all of Li Ning's plans, and the training of retired athletes is imminent. If there is not enough funding, how will all this progress?At the end of 2005, Li Ning gave the answer: he sold 1.64% of the shares of Li Ning Company he held to cash out nearly 100 million Hong Kong dollars.Li Ning Company issued a statement at the time saying that the funds would be mainly used to train young athletes and develop Chinese sports, and it was not for profit.This move reduced Li Ning's shareholding in the company from 38.67% to 37.03%, while philanthropy will occupy a greater proportion in Li Ning's future life.

After raising funds, Li Ning appeared frequently in impoverished areas, and he began to organize and participate in more poverty alleviation and education activities of the Athletes Education Foundation. In December 2006, when he, Guo Jingjing, Hu Jia and other members of the "Chinese Athletes Hope Primary School Visiting Group" went to the Chinese Athletes Hope Primary School in Luodai School District, Dongfang City, Hainan, his son Li Xiaoning, whom he had been protecting in a low-key manner, appeared in front of the media. Take your son to experience more of the meaning of the word "help".