Contestants' works

Section: Primary School Group

Name: Gao Xing

Age: 11

School: Beijing Dongjiao Minxiang Primary School

"Jordan, open! Chicago with the lead! 5.2 seconds left, Michael Jordan, running on fumes, with 45 points!"

My dear audience, you just witnessed the greatest moment in basketball history－Jordan's last shot! It was against the Utah Jazz and marked his sixth NBA championship and finals MVP.

As a young but adept basketball player, I love the sport for two main reasons.

First, basketball helps us make real friends. So many students nowadays don't socialize with real friends. Instead, they socialize with their endless homework assignments or so-called smartphones.

By playing basketball, you get to play with real people and really compete. And naturally, you make some actual friends!

More importantly, basketball makes you strong both physically and mentally because it's a difficult game to play. To be an elite player, you need to master so many moves.

You need to be strong to finish all of these complex moves. At the same time, your mind must be sharp to follow the movements of the other nine players around you on the court. You need to anticipate every possible movement of these nine players, so that you can help your team beat the opponent. You see, basketball is a healthy way to sharpen both your body and your brain.

Perhaps the most precious thing in the greatest players of all time, including Jordan and the late Kobe Bryant, is their love for basketball. By playing a sport that they truly love, they became better teammates and better people. Let's all join this big crowd of basketball lovers and enjoy the beauty of this sport.

Section: Junior Middle School Group

Name: Feng Ran

Age: 13

School: Hangzhou Jianlan Middle School

Dear Andrew,

If you want to visit a city in China, Hangzhou is a perfect choice. There's a well-known saying in China about this city: "Up there is paradise, and down here are Suzhou and Hangzhou." I was born and raised in the city and reckon it is one of the most beautiful and hospitable cities in the world.

It's at one end of the longest canal in the world and is famous for its beautiful scenery and cultural relics. The Grand Canal and West Lake are world heritage sites that have witnessed Hangzhou's glorious history. Many poems and legends speak of the lake's beauty and tell romantic stories about it.

Hangzhou is also proud of its prosperous economy. It's home to the internet company Alibaba and can now truly be called an international city. As a Hangzhou local, I believe the city's humanity is its greatest asset. It's open and full of warmth and love. In Hangzhou, the most common jobs are respected and our people encourage hard work. So it was no surprise when the government recently honored a young deliveryman for his outstanding work. Taxi drivers here are so patient that they even stop for wandering cats.

These are some of the things that make Hangzhou special, and I'm sure it's why the Asian Games will be held here in 2022. I love Hangzhou not only because of its beauty but also because of its people. I'm sure you'll love it, too.

Your friend,

Saipan

Oct 20, 2020