China-Bolivia Sports Cooperation Project Phase I - Training for Athletes and Coaches (Linked to Record ID#72765, #72767, and #72768)

Project narrative

In November of 2015, the governments of China and Bolivia signed Letters of Exchange for a Sports Technical Cooperation Project for the Bolivian South American Games. Under this framework, the Chinese government pledged to provide training to Bolivian athletes and coaches prior to the 2018 South American Games in Cochabamba. A farewell ceremony was held for the 117 athletes and coaches receiving training in China on March 19, 2016. The training lasted 115 days, or about 4 months, and encompassed sports such as mountain biking, BMX, boxing, table tennis, and judo (these five sports accounted for 39 of the 117 trainees). The 39 athletes and coaches involved with these sports traveled to Kunming for their training. This Sports Technical Cooperation Project would eventually be followed by a Phase II, for which Letters of Exchange were signed in December 2016, which included a second phase of athlete and coach training in China as well (see Record ID#72765). The actual South American Games took place in 2018, with the opening ceremony on May 26 and ending June 10. It is hoped that Chinese assistance and technical guidance, particularly given their experience with large-scale sports events, will help Bolivia expand their influence and strengthen Bolivian-Chinese sports cooperation.