From Nobel Laureate to Olympic Gold Medal Coach -- Why Have They All Answered the "Orchid Call"?

BEIJING, Sept. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from China.org.cn on the cultural exchanges between China and other parts of the world:

A Nobel Laureate in Literature, a recipient of the Fields Medal, the highest honor in mathematics, a diplomat, an educator, an Olympic gold-medal coach… are all these luminaries in their respective fields vying for a Chinese award? This is exactly the scene that unfolded at the recent selection for China's third Orchid Awards.

The Orchid Awards, established by China International Communications Group (CICG), are a major international cultural prize honoring non-Chinese individuals or organizations worldwide dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges and mutual learning between China and the rest of the world.

The Awards are named after "orchid" because, in traditional Chinese culture, the flower symbolizes sincerity, integrity, and the pursuit of goodness; in the contemporary context, it also carries the spirit of openness, inclusiveness, and harmony in diversity, qualities which also shine through in the stories of the candidates.

Among them is Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio, a Nobel Laureate in Literature. He first encountered Chinese literary classics such as "The Analects of Confucius" and "A Dream of Red Mansions" in the 1970s. Since 2011, he has paid frequent visits to China, during which he taught several general education courses at Nanjing University. He followed in the footsteps of Du Fu at the Chengdu Du Fu Thatched Cottage to seek out the ancient well and fireflies in the poet's poem "Seeing Fireflies"; he went to Shanghai and Nanjing for heartfelt exchanges with middle-school students; moreover, he introduced Chinese literature to French-speaking readers through his publications such as the French book "Le flot de la poésie continuera de couler" (The stream of poetry will continue to flow), the Chinese version of which is named "The Road of Tang Poetry."

In the women's field hockey semifinal at the Paris Olympics, Team China's goalkeeper saved the decisive penalty stroke, guaranteeing the team a spot in the final. Behind their remarkable performance, Alyson Annan, head coach of the Chinese National Women's Field Hockey Team, deserves much of the credit. As the only woman in history to have won Olympic golds in field hockey both as an athlete and as a coach, Annan has infused the Chinese team with cutting-edge technical and tactical ideas. She has also promoted the sport at the grassroots level, visiting schools in Yunfu, Guangdong, where she engaged face-to-face with teachers and students, and demonstrated hockey skills on the field personally — advancing sports and cultural exchange through concrete action.

On the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), handwritten letters, complete with illustrations, were sent to Chinese President Xi Jinping — 40 primary and secondary school student representatives of the UAE's "Hundred Schools Project" for Chinese language education carefully wrote their genuine thoughts on China-UAE cooperation. The project is led by Fatma Al Bastaki, who has devoted more than four decades to Chinese language education, during which the program grew from a pilot initiative to a network spanning 179 schools across all seven emirates, benefiting 73,000 students. She also has long organized youth exchange visits to China, sowing the seeds of friendship in children's hearts.

The stories of these finalists are but a glimpse into the many beautiful stories told to the world through the Orchid Awards. Since its establishment in 2022, the Awards have honored 19 non-Chinese nationals as well as one institution. In March 2026, developing the Orchid Awards brand was written into the outline of China's 15th Five-Year Plan. This year, shortlisted candidates span 24 countries across five continents, with a significantly broader range of professional backgrounds.

These leading figures from different fields may have first crossed paths with China by chance, but they have dedicated years or even decades to this people-to-people, heart-to-heart exchange. Their stories show us that people from different civilizations can understand, inspire and resonate with one another. This is not only the original aspiration of the Orchid Awards, but also the most moving interpretation of the Global Civilization Initiative.

From Nobel Laureate to Olympic Gold Medal Coach — Why Have They All Answered the "Orchid Call"?
http://www.china.org.cn/video/2026-09/16/content_118698274.shtml 

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SOURCE China.org.cn