Shenyang promotes rowing through integrated education

The city of Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, has integrated rowing into the curriculum of elementary and middle schools through recent years, aiming to instil an interest n the sport among its youth.

Taking the city's Hunnan District as an example, 34 elementary and middle schools in the district are equipped with a total of 585 rowing machines, providing indoor training conditions for over 40,000 students. The district has invested approximately US $1.78 million to promote the inclusion of rowing into school curriculum since April 2021.

To ensure high-quality development of the rowing lessons, the district has also been striving to improve the teaching resources. So far, 195 physical education teachers in Hunnan have been certified as professional rowing coaches, forming two rowing teams among the teachers.

Hou Mingfei, principal of an elementary school in Hunnan District advised "by allowing students to engage in the sport of rowing, we are not only promoting their physical health, but trying to pass on to them the cultural message that goes along with the sport. Rowing requires working closely with each other, which means team spirit plays a vital role in a rowing contest.

“Students are expected to learn for themselves the importance of getting united through the sport.”

For students who are committed to seeking a career in rowing, the city is also providing professional channels that allow them to receive further examinations and training.