AMID cheers and chants, the Second Spring Rowing League of Shenzhen X9 Alliance of Universities and Institutes Around X-Lake Sciensity kicked off along the Maozhou River in Guangming District on Saturday.

Organized by the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), the spring event features three races, with the first race taking place Saturday. The remaining two competitions are scheduled for May 27 along the Dasha River and June 3 at University Town in Nanshan District.

The spring league has attracted more than 20 teams comprising over 300 teachers and students from members of the X9 Alliance. The races held at the Maozhou and Dasha rivers are sprint races (each accounting for 40% of the total score), while the race at University Town will adopt a pursuit race format (contributing 20% toward the total score).

Following the spring game, the second rowing league will organize an autumn competition, which will invite more local universities and senior high schools to participate, according to Qiu Chengyu, deputy director of the Shenzhen Municipal Education Bureau.

Qiu said that hosting the Rowing League of Shenzhen X9 Alliance of Universities and Institutes around X-Lake Sciensity serves as a crucial step in establishing Shenzhen as a renowned international sports city and promoting the integration of sports and education.