The second "Centennial School Cup" for elementary schools opens: embarking on a journey of light and safeguarding the dream of green fields.

Written by/ Zuo Rui At 8:15 AM on the 22nd, the 2025 Second Centennial School Cup Football Elite Exchange Competition for elementary schools commenced in Qidong City, Jiangsu Province. Teams from 16 century-old schools across 15 provinces, cities, and autonomous regions gathered at the Qidong No. 1 Middle School stadium to begin their week-long journey of "chasing light and pursuing dreams."

Under the blue sky and by the East China Sea, the river breeze intertwined with the sound of waves. To allow children to enjoy football more, the prelude to the competition was conducted in a compact and passionate manner. Guests attending the opening ceremony included Qidong City Vice Mayor Yu Lichun, Liu Xiaoxin, President of the Football Newspaper, renowned South Korean coach Lee Jang-soo, Lu Haifeng, Secretary of the Education Working Committee of the Qidong Municipal Committee and Director of the Education and Sports Bureau, and Lu Qinghua, a member of the Party Leadership Group and Director of the Education Service Center of the Qidong Education and Sports Bureau.

As the national anthem played in the stadium, guests, coaches, players, referees, media, staff, and parents of players from across the country stood facing the national flag and sang the national anthem of the People's Republic of China.

Director Lu Haifeng, in his welcome speech, expressed that the children from century-old schools across the country, with their love for football and desire for exchange and mutual learning, gathered in the vibrant land of Qidong to engage in "in-depth exchanges on quality educational concepts and the achievements of sports education." He stated that hosting such a high-standard and high-level event in Qidong is a full affirmation and trust from leaders at all levels and various sectors of society towards Qidong's education and sports work. "We hope that all participating teams can use this platform to deeply exchange educational experiences, educational philosophies, and sports culture, and jointly explore new paths for the integration of sports and education, achieving comprehensive education."

In his opening speech, President Liu Xiaoxin recalled the first "Let Women’s Football Come Home" elite football exchange competition that concluded ten days earlier in Xi'an, as well as the inaugural "Centennial School Cup" launched a year ago in Jinan, leading up to the current second grand event, themed "Sunrise over the East Sea, Dreams Awaken in the East." How to protect the dream of campus football, how to uphold the dignity of the sport, and how to promote reforms in the integration of sports and education have been ongoing issues for the football community and the Football Newspaper to ponder and communicate about. He was pleased to see that within this year, the football team of Shaanxi Normal University Affiliated Primary School had systematically moved up to Shaanxi Normal University Affiliated High School—this indicates that the pathway for football from primary school to middle school, high school, and university is being resolved. To allow children and parents to engage in football without worries and enjoy it, football must be "a sport that is dignified, guaranteed, and full of joy."

After representatives from the Qidong Hehe Primary School team, Sun Jirui, and referee representative Zhu Dinghao took the stage to pledge, Vice Mayor Yu Lichun announced the opening of the second Centennial School Cup. The entire opening ceremony lasted only 15 minutes, and as the whistle blew, the stars of the Centennial School Cup elementary group made their dazzling entrance.