(Clearwisdom.net) On July 18, 2004, Falun Gong practitioners in the Northern California Bay Area were invited to participate in the Twentieth Chinese Athletic Meet. The practitioners demonstrated the five sets of the exercises and took part in the relay contest of 1200 meters. They also voluntarily arranged the site, acted as judges for the meet, and won praise from the organizers.
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It was the third time that Bay Area Falun Gong practitioners have participated in the meet. The practitioners in their yellow exercise suits looked full of energy. They entered the sports field while performing the Chinese folk waist drums.
At the front of the procession were practitioners holding a banner reading, "Falun Dafa is Good." When the host announced, "Walking towards us right now is the Falun Gong group," the audience immediately gave warm applause and cheers. Some exclaimed, "Falun Dafa is good!" The practitioners waved to the audience to greet them. They also demonstrated the first set of exercises - Buddha Showing A Thousand Hands, on the main stage. At the back of the group were practitioners holding a banner reading, "Wishing the Athletic Meet a Great Success."
The host announced that Falun Dafa is also called Falun Gong, and is an advanced Buddha School cultivation practice. It is based on the universal principles of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance" to teach people to cultivate their mind nature and to be good people, and ultimately reach a wonderful realm of a pure physical and mental state.
The host also added that since Falun Gong was taught for the first time to the public by Mr. Li Hongzhi in May 1992 in China, it has been rapidly spread inside China and over 60 countries and regions in the world. The book Zhuan Falun has been translated into over 20 languages, bringing physical and mental well being to more than 100 million people. The five sets of exercises are simple and easy to learn, and are taught free of charge. According to the survey by the National Sports Committee, on the state of physical health of more than ten thousand Falun Dafa practitioners in 1998, the improvement rate reached 97.9% after starting the practice. So far, Falun Gong has been honored with over 1000 proclamations and awards from different countries.
After the entry ceremony, several people asked about the Falun Gong booth and wanted to buy Falun Gong books. One woman who obtained the book remarked that she was amazed at the Falun Gong practitioners' unselfishness and devotion. She said, "At present, what many Chinese people think of is only making money. While under Jiang's brutal persecution, you are still trying hard, don't give up, and continue appealing. I really admire you."
In the afternoon, the practitioners demonstrated the five sets of exercises on the stage, and won a round of applause from the audience. The organizing committee issued a certificate of acknowledgement and repeatedly thanked the practitioners for their participation.
