History, Body Representations and Identity Politics of the National Ethnic Minority Games in China: A Critical Review Liu Li(a), Zhang Yongxin(a) &Shen Wei*(a)
a) College of Physical Education, Anhui Normal University.
* corresponding author^s email:284019076[at]qq.com
Abstract
The National Ethnic Minority Games (NEMG) was an institutionalized quadrennial muThe National Ethnic Minority Games (NEMG) was an institutionalized quadrennial multi-sport event in China. It was jointly organized by National Ethnic Affairs Commission (a ministerial body of the state government in charge affairs concerning China^s 55 ethnic minorities) and the State Sport Ministry (or General Administration of Sport of China). This sport event has been held for 11 times from 1953 to 2019. Both the demonstrative and competitive sport at the Games are traditional ethnic sports from China^s various ethnic groups. The National Ethnic Minority Games was designed to showcase China^s indigenous sports culture and to promote ^Diversity in Unity^ within China^s national identity. This paper first focuses on the origin and development of the Games in the context of China^s national minority policy and sports development in national minority areas in the past 66 years. It then explores the body representations, rituals and symbols, at the sports arena and in the media^s spotlight for the Games. Third, it analyzes the identity politics of the Games and answers how the Games helps to shape and construct China as a unified nation-state with multi-ethnic groups.lti-sport event in China. It was jointly organized by National Ethnic Affairs Commission (a ministerial body of the state government in charge affairs concerning China^s 55 ethnic minorities) and the State Sport Ministry (or General Administration of Sport of China). This sport event has been held for 11 times from 1953 to 2019. Both the demonstrative and competitive sport at the Games are traditional ethnic sports from China^s various ethnic groups. The National Ethnic Minority Games was designed to showcase China^s indigenous sports culture and to promote ^Diversity in Unity^ within China^s national identity. This paper first focuses on the origin and development of the Games in the context of China^s national minority policy and sports development in national minority areas in the past 66 years. It then explores the body representations, rituals and symbols, at the sports arena and in the media^s spotlight for the Games. Third, it analyzes the identity politics of the Games and answers how the Games helps to shape and construct China as a unified nation-state with multi-ethnic groups.
Keywords: National Ethnic Minority Games- Body Representations- Identity Politics- National Unity- Diversity in Unity
