European Shaolin Kungfu Games and the Shaolin Kungfu Duanpin System Certification Activities Held in Jesolo, Venice

On the morning of November 17, 2023, the Grand Monk Shi Yongxin, abbot of Shaolin Temple, headed a Shaolin culture delegation to visit the Jesolo town hall in the north of Italy, and talked joyfully with Mayor Christopher de Zotti of Jesolo.

Visiting the town hall

Abbot Yongxin explained cultural exchange conditions of visiting Bolivia, Argentina, San Francisco, Los Angeles before long to Mayor Christopher de Zotti, and also thanked that he could attend the press conference of the 2023 European Shaolin Kungfu Games. Mayor Christopher de Zotti of Jesolo warmly welcomed the arrival of the delegation led by abbot Shi Yongxin, sincerely praised the development of Shaolin culture abroad, and expected Shaolin culture being carried forward in Europe. He mentioned they would fully support the development of Shaolin culture in Jesolo.

Press conference site

Then the “press conference of the 2023 European Shaolin Kungfu Games” was held at the town hall of Jesolo. Abbot Shi Yongxin, mayor of Jesolo, Ms Martina Borin, minister of sports of Jesolo, Shi Yankui, head of the Venice Shaolin Cultural Center, master Shi Yanliang of the Shaolin Temple Austria, master Shi Yanhui of the Rome Shaolin Cultural Center as well as the delegation of Shaolin culture including Shi Yanti, Shi Yanye, Shi Yanpei, Shi Yanqiao, Shi Yanzhou,Jin Long, Ren Hongbing and so on attended the press conference.

The Grand Monk Shi Yongxin gives a speech

In the press conference, abbot Yongxin explained activities of Shaolin Kungfu games, training courses of the Shaolin Kungfu Duanpin system, and overseas Shaolin association meeting, held on several continents by Shaolin Temple this year. Meanwhile he raised the claim and expectation for all these activities which would be held in Venice soon. He said the 2023 European Shaolin Kungfu Games would be held in Venice from Nov. 18 to 19 when there would be around 500 attendants from 22 countries and 65 teams participating in the games and more than 2, 000 people attended the event. The second European training and certification sessions of the Shaolin Kungfu Duanpin System would be held from Nov. 20 to 21. The European Shaolin Association meeting would be held on the evening of Nov. 20 when Shaolin disciples gathered together to discuss the development. There would be also the Shaolin picture expo during the event.

Mayor of Jesolo gives a speech

Presenting gifts to each other

Taking a group photo

Mayor Christopher de Zotti said in his speech, he thanked abbot Yongxin could head the Shaolin cultural delegation to Venice, bringing local citizens healthy lifestyle. The event embodies communication and peace. “We Jesolo often communicate with different countries, undertake many international sports activities, aiming to promote peace. Just during the Shaolin cultural delegation’ s visit, we win the European sports city award issued by UNESCO. This must be good luck that Shaolin brings to Jesolo.”

Teams participating in the games

According to the schedule, the Shaolin Kungfu Games, the second European training and certificate of the Shaolin Kungdu Duanpin system, the European Shaolin Association Meeting, Shaolin picture expo and other activities would be held in Jesolo Gymnasium. 

Holding the blessing assembly presided over by the Grand Monk Shi Yongxin before the opening ceremony

Folding hands together to pay respect for Buddha

The 2023 European Shaolin Kungfu Games was held in the Jesolo Gymnasium on Nov. 18. At 10 o’ clock on the morning, abbot Yongxin headed the Shaolin cultural delegation and heads of all Shaoli cultural centers in Europe, holding the solemn blessing dharma assembly for world peace and human health.

The Grand Monk Shi Yongxin gives his speech

At the opening ceremony, abbot Yongxin, Yankui of the Venice Shaolin Cultural Center, Jesolo’ s minster Martina Borin of Sports and mayor gave their speech successively. Abbot Yongxin said in his speech, Shaolin Kungfu is the world-renowned intangible cultural heritage, with a thousand-year dharma branch inherited orderly, shared by all human beings. As the ancient ancestral monastery and the holy land of Shaolin Kungfu inheritance, Shaolin Temple and the Shaolin associations of the six continents jointly launched the 2023-2024 world Shaolin Kungfu games on the six continents. He hoped these events could promote the competition to enter more areas and improve enthusiasm of continents and countries, conveniently participate and communicate, and realize the normalization and sustainability of Kungfu games. Meanwhile Shaolin Kungfu games has to improve the standardization, internationalization and the level of socialization as well as the reputation of the Shaolin brand, attract national governments, communities, schools, enterprises and the public to join and support it, embodying its multiple functions such as exchanging martial arts skills, drawing lessons, discussing management mode, building shared ecosystem and serving the public physical and mental health. Then abbot Yongxin declared the opening of the Shaolin Kungfu games.

The Grand Monk Shi Yongxin issues awards to winners 

The Grand Monk Shi Yongxin takes a group photo with participants

The Grand Monk Shi Yongxin takes a group photo with teams participating in the event

The Grand Monk Shi Yongxin takes a group photo with local caring people

During the time, 485 Shaolin disciples from 22 countries participated in the Kungfu games. After the event, abbot Yongxin issued the award “Star of Kungfu” and took a group photo with winners, local caring communities and other people.

The European Shaolin Association Meeting

The European Shaolin Association meeting was held in Jesolo, Venice on Nov. 20, 2023 local time. All members of the association attended the meeting, listened to abbot Yongxin’ s new plans and requirements about further development of the association meanwhile the association’ s president, vice president, executive secretary-general, council members were declared. During the time, everyone came up with all sorts of new and better ways, contributing wisdom and energy to the development of the association in the future.

The scene of the meeting

Shaolin Kungfu Duanpin system, abbot Yongxin explained the Shaolin Kungfu test is the tradition of Shaolin Temple. Shaolin Temple would conduct assessment and verification for Buddhists and lay Buddhists, sutra lecture, chanting, ritual and so on of which Shaolin Kungfu is one. The present training and certification of the Shaolin Kungfu Duanpin system aims to carry forward the inheritance and development of Shaolin culture. During the event, master Yanliang, head of the Vienna Shaolin Cultural Center, represented European disciples to thank abbot Yongxin for his care and support of the European Shaolin Kungfu games as well as people’ s help and support of the association. (Edited by Zou Xiang and photographed by Ren Hongbing)