San Francisco, California: Falun Gong Welcomed at Chinese Sports Event (Photos)

By Huang Kaili, Clearwisdom correspondent in the San Francisco Bay Area

(Clearwisdom.net) The annual San Francisco Bay Chinese Sports Games opening ceremony was held on July 24 at San Jose City College. Falun Gong practitioners were invited to participate.

Falun Gong procession

Falun Gong procession

On the morning of the event, it was hot with intense sunshine. On entering the playing field, the practitioners played the music, "Falun Dafa is good" accompanied by a waist drum performance. The practitioners in the front of the procession held banners with the words, "Falun Dafa" and "Truth, Compassion, Tolerance." In front of the stage, the practitioners demonstrated the Falun Gong exercises. At the end of the procession were banners with the words, "The World needs Truth, Compassion, Forbearance" and "Falun Dafa is good."

Banner worded "Falun Dafa is Great."

When the Falun Gong procession passed the stage, the host announced, "Falun Dafa is also known as Falun Gong. It is based on the universal principles of 'Truth, Compassion, Forbearance' to guide practitioners to cultivate a pure mind and body. There are currently practice sites in each of the main cities in the Bay Area."

Waist drum troupe

More and more people inquire about local practice sites

After the opening ceremony, many people came to the Falun Gong booth to ask if there was a practice site in their local region. Some asked about where to buy the Falun Dafa books and the exercise-instruction videotape.

A woman from Taiwan said, "At first I was unsure of Falun Gong after viewing reports from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) propaganda. Later, however, after watching and being in contact with practitioners, I felt that the CCP's propaganda was not true. I tried to find out the reasons. A practitioner explained the facts about Falun Gong and the persecution, and why the CCP and [former president] Jiang Zemin want to persecute Falun Gong. The practitioner also introduced the Epoch Times' Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party." The woman then took some truth-clarification literature and the Nine Commentaries, and said she would read them in detail.

Organizer: "You make sure to participate"

It was the fourth time for Falun Gong practitioners to participate in the sports event. The first time, the practitioners participated after submitting an application Last year and this year, one of the event organizers called a practitioner to invite the group to participate. The organizer said, "You make sure to participate."

The San Francisco Bay Area Chinese Teaching Center was the main sponsor for the sports event. The director said that many people practice Falun Gong in Taiwan. He said, "Falun Gong is a good practice. Practitioners gain good health as well as improved morality, which is the most important."

The practitioners' first-time participation left a deep impression with the organizers. They said, "You have huge lineup." During the second and third year of participation, some practitioners offered to help as volunteers. The practitioners worked hard to complete the tasks assigned. The organizers said, "Your group is truly good. From your volunteers, we can see your noble spirit. Also, your procession was in such good order."

The organizers and sponsors appreciate and support Falun Gong. After being in contact with practitioners, they knew that Falun Gong is a group not involved in money or personal gain. To expose the CCP's persecution and to introduce Falun Gong to more people, practitioners have held many activities and participated in various community events. They always cover any expenses out of their own pockets. Because the organizers admired the practitioners, they waived their application fee for the sports game, and also provided them with a free booth.
Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2005/7/26/106965.html

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