Sideline Story
What makes a village basketball game equal NBA popularity in China?

A recently concluded amateur basketball tournament at Taipan village in Guizhou Province has become a phenomenon in China, attracting tens of thousands of spectators into the stands and drawing attention online. The games are renowned for an electric atmosphere and grassroots participation from rural areas. People call it the "Village BA," termed after the popular CBA and NBA leagues. In this episode, we try to find out what makes the games held in the tiny, remote village so special, and what's behind this village basketball craze in China.
- Broadcast on:
- 31 Mar 2023
A recently concluded amateur basketball tournament at Taipan village in Guizhou Province has become a phenomenon in China, attracting tens of thousands of spectators into the stands and drawing attention online. The games are renowned for an electric atmosphere and grassroots participation from rural areas. People call it the "Village BA," termed after the popular CBA and NBA leagues. In this episode, we try to find out what makes the games held in the tiny, remote village so special, and what's behind this village basketball craze in China.