Anti-corruption could herald soccer renaissance
（文章来源：Global Times）
A high-profile anti-corruption documentary that exposed the underbelly of corruption in Chinese soccer came to an end on Tuesday, with the spotlight focused on key Chinese Football Association (CFA) figures Du Zhaocai and Chen Xuyuan as well as former national team head coach Li Tie. The CFA also called for its staff to watch and reflect on the anti-corruption documentary, a move that signifies Chinese soccer's governing body aims to weed out unethical practices within its organization.
This move is not just about removing corruption but about rebuilding trust and integrity, crucial elements for the long-term success of Chinese soccer. The hope is that the former officials' self-reflections will be a catalyst for change, fostering an environment where ethical conduct is prioritized over personal gain.
The documentary's focus on the misdeeds of former officials like Chen and Du brings to light a systemic issue that had hindered the growth of Chinese soccer. These individuals, entrusted with driving reforms, instead opted for shortcuts and personal gains that were, as Li admitted in the documentary, mostly illegal. The corrosive effect of corruption has not only tainted the sport, but also widened the gap between on-field achievements and the expectations of Chinese fans.
While the fight against corruption is imperative for the future of Chinese soccer, it is not the sole solution in order to improve the national teams. Eradicating corruption is just one step toward a revival of a respected soccer culture. Corruption within soccer was exacerbated by the influence of wealthy clubs, creating a toxic atmosphere that has hindered the development of the sport, the documentary noted. The pursuit of quick success and financial gains has perpetuated a culture where the ends justify the means. The crackdown on corruption is, therefore, a necessary step to cleanse the sport, ensuring that success is achieved through fair competition and merit rather than backdoor dealings.
As fans anticipate the Asian Cup, which is set to kick off this week, the performance of the Chinese national team has become a beacon of hope. Despite the lackluster track record of the national team in recent years, fans are willing to forgive on-field shortcomings, making the team less pressured than usual.
The upcoming Asian Cup presents an opportunity for Team China to redefine its narrative and inspire a new generation of soccer enthusiasts. The draw has placed them alongside Qatar, Tajikistan, and Lebanon in Group A. With the top two teams from each group and the four best third-placed teams advancing to the knockout stage, China has a realistic chance of progressing. In terms of FIFA rankings, China faces a formidable opponent in Qatar, ranked 58th globally, while Tajikistan and Lebanon are ranked 106th and 107th, respectively. Although winning the Asian Cup may seem like a distant dream, Team China's competitive edge within the group is evident. The pressure is not just on the players but also on the coaching staff, led by the determined head coach Aleksandar Jankovic.
Jankovic's approach to the game is pragmatic, focusing on one match at a time. He has emphasized the importance of preparing for each game as if it were a final. This mind-set reflects a commitment to excellence and a determination to succeed on the field - an attitude that is crucial in reshaping the perception of Chinese soccer.
The Asian Cup serves as a platform for redemption, not only for the national team but for Chinese soccer as a whole. A successful campaign, marked by spirited performances and, ideally, progression to the latter stages of the tournament, could inject new life into the sport. It has the potential to captivate the nation, drawing in more young talents and enthusiasts, who, inspired by the team's success, may contribute to the growth of soccer at the grassroots level.
The battle against corruption in Chinese soccer is a pivotal step toward rebuilding trust and integrity. As Team China starts their Asian Cup campaign by taking on Tajikistan on Saturday, fans are hopeful that a mini-revival on the pitch, coupled with a clean and transparent soccer ecosystem, will herald a new era for Chinese soccer.
What if your next job is just a weak tie away? A recent study, conducted by a team from Stanford University and LinkedIn, revealed that weaker social connections have a greater beneficial effect on job mobility (流动性) than stronger ties. Stanford Professor Erik Bryson suggests a practical outcome of this study is to encourage job seekers to expand their reach beyond immediate friends and colleagues. Weak ties, he explains, often provide more unique, beneficial information and connections.
The advantage of weak ties theory is based on the idea that weak ties allow distant group of people to access novel information that can lead to new opportunities and innovation. Weak ties are more likely to introduce new job information to a wider social network.
The research team conducted a five-year experimental study with LinkedIn, involving 20 million global participants and 600,000 new jobs created. Using LinkedIn's "People You May Know" (PYMK) algorithm (算法), the researchers tested the weak tie theory's impact on the job market. The team randomly assigned LinkedIn users to receive either more weak or strong tie recommendations from the PYMK algorithm, then tracked the labor mobility of these groups over five years.
Their findings confirm that weaker ties enhance job mobility. Besides, the researchers looked at differences across industries and found that adding weak ties creates significantly more job opportunities in digital and high-tech industries. "This may reflect the fact that there is more rapid change and need for novel information and connections in those industries," Bryson said.
He points out that the traditional methods used by policymakers to analyze labor markets are quickly becoming outdated. "They need to recognize that the labor market, like all aspects of the economy, is being digitized," Bryson said. "It is important that we understand how the algorithms used by digital platforms like LinkedIn impact the labor market."
When Kurt Benirschke started collecting skin samples from endangered animals in 1972, he didn't have a firm plan on what to do with them. As a researcher at the University of California San Diego, he believed that one day these samples would be used to save these animals. A few years later, he moved his collection to the San Diego Zoo, and called it the Frozen Zoo.
For a long time, it was the only project of its kind; however, in recent years, similar conservation efforts have spread globally, and tools that Benirschke didn't yet have are now available. Today, the Frozen Zoo is the world's largest animal cryobank(生物冷冻库), holding samples from over 10,500 individual animals from 1,220 species, in the hope that one day science can bring them back as a species.
The Frozen Zoo's advanced technology is the key to its success in saving species from extinction. By using cryopreservation techniques, the zoo can store cells and tissues from endangered animals. The stored genetic material can be used for research, breeding(繁殖) programs, and potentially even cloning or genetic engineering to restore endangered species.
By protecting the genetic heritage of endangered animals, the Frozen Zoo provides hope for the survival of species that would otherwise be at risk of dying out, and the preservation of Earth's precious biodiversity. It has inspired the establishment of similar cryobanks worldwide, expanding efforts to conserve endangered species. These cryobanks contribute to the global network of genetic resources, improving cooperation and knowledge exchange. By demonstrating the potential of technology in the preservation of biodiversity, the frozen zoo serves as a powerful tool in raising awareness and driving change.
The Frozen Zoo is like a time capsule, preserving the genetic heritage of endangered species for future generations. It reminds us about the importance of conservation and offers a window into a world that could otherwise be lost forever.