Chinese water ski team shows their pyramid skills at the China-US-Australia Water Ski Competition in Neijiang, Sichuan on June 6, 2011.(Photo by Cai Shanshan)

Neijiang or Tiancheng (sweet city), a city that is not as well-known as Chengdu or Chongqing, located in the middle part of Southwest China’s Sichuan province, hosted its first international sports event on June 4-6, a water ski competition among China, Australia and the US.

As can be seen from its main streets or alleys, event posters of different sizes, security forces and traffic police on full-day duty all demonstrated the city’s enthusiasm about the event.

Kuno Richard, chairman of the International Water Ski Federation, said the event felt like the Beijing Olympic Games.

“You can see ads, posters everywhere. Local people are so hospitable. It’s like at the Beijing Olympic Games,” he exclaimed.

Neijiang, with a population of more than 4 million, boasts of its Tiancheng Lake, an urban section of the famous Tuojiang River.

By holding water sports events such as the 3-day China-US-Australia water ski competition at Tiancheng Lake, which was formed in 2009, the local government of Neijiang wants to create water fun for its residents and turn the city into a water-based tourist destination.

Liu Chengmin, mayor of Neijiang, shared his ideas on how to improve people’s lifestyle with its existing water resource and make Neijiang a real “sweet and happy place”.

“Tiancheng should deserve its name. To make residents’ life sweet and happy is what the local government has been striving for,” Liu said.

“We have this beautiful Tiancheng Lake, which is a gift from God. We should make full use of it.”

The local government already has a plan in mind, according to Liu.

“We are going to design easy and safe water recreational activities for the elderly and kids, more exciting water motor racing for the young people and develop space on the lake for the middle-aged to spend their leisure time and relax, like playing mahjong and drinking tea,” the mayor said. Sichuan people are famous for their laid-back and leisurely lifestyle.

“To bring aqua fun and happiness for people is our goal. A tourist destination featured by water sports and water-related activities could eventually be formed after all these efforts,” Liu said.

In 2010, the first dragon boat trade cultural festival was held in Neijiang, heralding the city’s efforts at promoting Tiancheng Lake both at home and abroad.

The recent event, the first of its kind held in China, was a bold step for Neijiang, a third-tier city, hometown of the late Zhang Daqian, one of the most well-known artists in China.

Since 2009, the city has gone to great lengths to improve the environment at Tiancheng Lake and its banks, aimed at building a water sports and recreational base in western China.

“We are trying to make Tiancheng Lake a regular water sports and leisure base,” Liu said.

Water sports in China is not as popular as in Western countries due to the lack of leisure time and money needed to pursue it.

“In China, water sports players are funded by the country, while in Western countries, people play it out of their own interests. Lovers of the sport register in clubs,” a consultant and former water ski coach at the competition told China Daily.

Mr. Richard who has been to China many times was very happy to the see the progress of water ski in China. He suggested promote the sport among teenagers and start clubs as in basketball and football.

Water sports include water skiing, water motor racing, yachting, rowing and rafting. Australia and the US are among the powerhouses of the sports.