Two Major Volleyball Competitions Kick Off Simultaneously in Otog Front Banner, Ordos

On July 17, the 19th China University Beach Volleyball Championship and the 2026 Grassland Village Farmers & Herders Volleyball Invitational Tournament opened side by side at Malanhua Square in Otog Front Banner, Ordos City, Inner Mongolia, blending competitive sports with unique grassland culture to stage an exhilarating cultural and tourism gala.

The scene of the event

Audience at the venue

At the event venue, spectators gathered for the opening ceremony, where artistic performances rich in grassland characteristics took the stage to heat up the atmosphere. The lively, unrestrained Chopstick Dance fully showcased the hospitality and bold spirit of the grassland people. As the melody of Happy Village Volleyball played, the whole venue erupted instantly with non-stop applause and cheers.

Performance: The Chopstick Dance

Musical Performance: Happy Village Volleyball

The friendly match officially got underway at the referee’s sharp whistle. Players jumped high, delivered precise passes and collaborated seamlessly on the court. Afterwards, a succession of cultural performances took the stage with numerous highlights, stoking the audience’s enthusiasm nonstop.

Scene from the Friendly Match

It is learned that the 19th China University Beach Volleyball Championship will run until July 23. A total of 86 teams consisting of more than 170 student athletes from 42 universities across 19 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities nationwide will gather on the sand courts to showcase the vitality of young people. The 2026 Grassland Village Farmers and Herders Volleyball Invitational Tournament is a three-day event concluding on July 19. Matches are held simultaneously at three competition venues. The tournament has drawn 56 teams with 672 farmers and herders from Inner Mongolia, Ningxia and other regions. The participants range in age from 18 to 70 years old, fully demonstrating widespread enthusiasm for mass sports.

Teams from universities

Apart from the matches, Otog Front Banner has arranged a variety of supporting activities, including an exhibition showcasing the spirit of the Chinese Women's Volleyball Team, intangible cultural heritage workshops, a local specialty food culture week, and an agricultural and livestock products fair. Integrating sports, cultural tourism, commerce and agriculture, this volleyball gala delivers not only thrilling contests but also heartwarming worldly delights.

Vendors at the themed market

Specialty Themed Market

Specialty Themed Market

This event has not only enriched residents' spiritual and cultural lives, but also polished the distinctive brand of "Grassland Village Volleyball". Volleyball is far more than a sport confined to courts. It has stepped out of stadiums and extended to streets, neighborhoods and rural communities, showcasing the unique vitality and rural charm of the grasslands to the outside world. It is believed that the energy and warmth of this grassland will be witnessed by more people.