In order to promote Shaolin culture and serve human health, the Shaolin Temple in Songshan, China has discussed with overseas Shaolin cultural centers and Shaolin federations on various continents to hold the "2024 Global Shaolin Games Finals" in mid July 2024. The 2023 Shaolin Games Championship winners from overseas continents, countries, and cities will be invited to participate in the on-site finals of the third Shaolin Kung Fu Exam Competition at the Shaolin Temple in Songshan. Winners of different skin colors and races from six continents will gather together, exchange ideas, and determine the "2024 World Shaolin Kung Fu Star".
During the 2022 Spring Festival, Shaolin Temple collaborated with 94 countries and 128 overseas Shaolin cultural centers from five continents to hold the first Shaolin Kung Fu Online Exam Competition, with 5230 overseas Shaolin disciples actively participating. Xinhua News Agency, China News Agency, and more than 80 mainstream news media and major social media outlets overseas reported in 11 languages in various forms before, during, and after the competition, covering a audience of over 2.6 billion readers. Huya Live's single platform received over 19 million views per day.
In 2023, the Shaolin Games spanned six continents, bringing together participants from 101 countries. Over 3,000 Shaolin disciples competed, and tens of thousands of supporters joined the grand event. This gathering showcased the universal value of Shaolin culture in promoting the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of humanity. Upholding the principle of "Shaolin Heritage, Shared by All," the tournament focused on the intangible cultural heritage of Shaolin Kung Fu. It targeted overseas Shaolin disciples and practitioners of Shaolin Kungfu (representing the old, middle-aged, youth, and child generations) with an "on-site examination" held in six representative cities around the world.Participants of many colours and races enthusiastically exchanged and competed, undergoing assessments and receiving blessings from the Shaolin Temple Abbot, who represents the elders of Shaolin's intangible cultural heritage. Prominent leaders from major overseas Chinese communities actively responded and took on responsibilities. The event gave new vitality to the Shaolin Associations of North America and Europe, which have been established for over a decade. Together with the newly established intercontinental Shaolin Associations in Africa, Latin America, and Oceania, the event showcased the true value and enduring appeal of the "Shaolin family" to the world.
The 2024 Global Shaolin Kung Fu Exam Finals will still focus on the inheritance of Shaolin Kung Fu intangible cultural heritage, with overseas Shaolin disciples and Kung Fu enthusiasts as the main target. The final will adopt a combination of online and offline methods, tailored to local conditions, and concentrated on-site finals.
A total of 300 people from 168 cities in 101 countries around the world, selected after two rounds of exams, including the "Six Continents Shaolin Kung Fu Stars", the 100 overseas Shaolin Kung Fu Intangible Cultural Heritage transmission bases, and the 100 supporters of Shaolin culture from various countries, will gather at the ancestral home of Zen Buddhism and Shaolin Kung Fu inheritance destinations to witness the appearance of the top 10 "Shaolin Kung Fu Stars" and overseas Shaolin Kung Fu Intangible Cultural Heritage transmission heroes.