Wang Yi continued, "We want to preserve the purest form of basketball, while also finding ways to improve local people's material lives. Only when their lives are better can basketball become even purer. That should be a virtuous cycle."
The official nodded. "You're right. These days, Village BA has become one of our region's defining attractions. We're focusing on combining sports and tourism. Many people travel a great distance to see Village BA and experience the excitement in person. Add our beautiful scenery and delicious food, and visitors are sure to linger."
"Many local departments are working together, too. For example, more than ten hotels have opened, and several free parking lots have been added near the court. Across our entire city, parking is also gradually becoming free."
"We've also introduced many special offers for visitors from out of town. All of this has attracted a large number of tourists."
Wang Yi nodded. "Guizhou Province's Village BA must be the largest amateur competition in the world, right?"
The director of the sports bureau nodded. "I don't know whether we have the most teams, but we definitely have the biggest crowds. In the first few years, the audience was all local. Later, our local Village BA went viral on online platforms like TikTok, and spectators began coming from all over the country."
"These days, at least one-fifth of the crowd at every game comes from all over the country. Among them are big-name celebrities like Yao Ming, Yi Jianlian, Jay Chou, and Will Pan, as well as foreign stars like Mitchell, Beverley, Marbury, and McGrady. Their presence has made Village BA even better known and attracted more visitors, creating a virtuous cycle. These days, you can often spot foreigners watching the games courtside."
Wang Yi nodded. "This model really is excellent."