On November 16 during the final round of the elocution competition of "The Story of the New Generation—Growing Up with My Motherland" held in the Beijing’s Capital Library of China, Mr. Liu Boqiang of Shougang Park Sports Center Operation Management Co., Ltd. narrated his personal journey from being a steel rolling worker to an ice maker, expressing his determination and confidence in contributing to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games and won himself the bronze award.

Mr. Liu who graduated from Welding Major in Shougang Technician College in 1996 was assigned to Shougang’s blooming mill and became a steel rolling worker. Over the past 20 years, he has experienced the relocation and adjustment in Shougang, witnessed the major transformation in Beijing’s old industrial zone of Shougang like that a phoenix’s nirvana, and implemented the crossover from "fire" to "ice."

In 2017, Shougang organized some staff training to sweep and make ice where Liu was a participant. He actively worked himself out and was both diligent and eager to learn. As a result of his excellent training results, he was drafted in to study at the ice curling house which requires high and complex maintenance. At present, there are no more than 20 top ice makers in the world. Shougang’s curling house has invited top ice makers from Canada. In the process of ice making, Liu could only act as assistant and unable to get on the ice at all during the key high complexity "dotting" round. But eventually with relentless and dedicated practices, his ice making technique was eventually recognized by the various world class ice makers. Now, Liu’s goal is to become a renowned "master ice maker" at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games, to appear in the arena serving the Winter Olympic Games and contributing to the cause of China's Winter Olympic Games.

Liu said, after winning the award, "Thanks to Shougang Park for the chance to achieve my dream. This year as Shougang celebrates her 100th anniversary, this award is my gift to you. I really enjoyed the process throughout the competition, where I could share the platform with so many excellent people in the nation and listened to their stories. It is such a significant experience for me and my driving force to further improve myself.”

Liu and other 11 contestants deeply moved the audience and judges as thunderous applauses were given to them. When the judge Yan Yongping was commenting, he couldn't help choking in tears, saying "I have lost count of the times my eyes were wet throughout this elocution competition. The story and journey of each contestant has deeply touched me. I think if every Chinese person can make unremitting efforts to see the rise of the country, the flag of patriotism will always fly high in our great motherland, and the revival of the Chinese nation will certainly not remain a mere dream! "

The elocution competition of "The Story of the New Generation—Growing Up with My Motherland" is jointly sponsored by the Propaganda Department of the Central Committee, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission, the All China Federation of Trade Unions, the Central Committee of the Communist Young League, the All China Women's Federation, and the People's Daily, with the All China Federation of Trade Unions taking the lead. Since its official launch in April, the elocution competition has held 11 themed events and 1 online popularity contest, including "Laboring Together for a Dream-Come-True", "Green Water and Blue Mountains", "Rebuilding the Heart for the Party" and "Feelings of Home and Country." Liu won the silver award in the keynote elocution competition of "Laboring Together for a Dream-Come-True" on June 27. In the subsequent online popularity contest, he was “saved” and successfully entered into the Final. On November 15, in the preliminaries of the final, Liu stood out from the 43 contestants by virtue of his outstanding performance and was successfully shortlisted. Of the 12 finalists from all over the country, 2 won gold, 4 silver and 6 bronze.