Chinese Embassy funds First International South American Shaolin Wushu Festival

From November 18 to November 25, 2015, the First International South American Shaolin Wushu Festival took place in La Paz, Bolivia. The festival was organized by the Shaolin Kung Fu Association of Bolivia (Asociación de Kung Fu Shaolin Quan Bolivia) and the Shaolin Chan International Association in South America. It was funded and supported by, at least in part, the Chinese Embassy in Bolivia. The festival consisted of a competition with the following events: Shaolin Kung Fu, traditional and modern Wushu, Taiji Quan, and Sanda. It also included educational activities, including seminars from Shi De Yang, the head of the Shaolin Temple. The opening ceremony took place on November 21, while the closing took place on the 24th. Over 100 athletes participated, attending from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and other countries. The festival's intention was to facilitate Chinese martial arts culture and increase the influence of Shaolin Kung Fu in South America. It was hoped that the festival would be replicated in subsequent years and continue to promote cultural exchange between China and South America. A second South American Kung Fu and Sanda Championship was held in 2018 in Uruguay, though it does not appear Bolivia attended.

Number of official sources

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