Pipe band adds traditional touch

The kilts, the bagpipes and bright red tartan on display during the curling tournament at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games are made in Scotland, but the immaculately dressed musicians blasting out Scotland the Brave come from China.

The Beijing Military Pipe Band is honoring an ancient curling tradition by playing at the beginning of each session as a tribute to the Scots who invented the sport in the 16th century.

The six band members have never set foot in Scotland but that has not prevented them from impressing all those inside the National Aquatics Center, aka the Ice Cube.

"We have been preparing for these Olympics for a long time," band captain Zhang Ali said. "The sound of the Scottish bagpipes is really charming. I once heard it and fell in love with it. So I found a teacher to teach me."

Beyond selfies with players at the venue, the band grabbed the attention of one Scotsman, world champion Bruce Mouat, who has been representing Britain in mixed doubles and will be team skip in the men's competition.

"I was very impressed by their skills and their abilities to play the bagpipes and the drums. They're very good and obviously well-trained in the bagpipes," he said.

"It's really nice and it's almost a bit homely for us. I'm very happy to have them here."

Zhang has been playing the bagpipes for seven years, having previously performed on the trumpet in the army.

"The others in the band have different occupations, they are teachers or musicians who have performed at different music festivals," he said. "We all squeeze time to play and rehearse out of passion.

"There are only a few Chinese bagpipe musicians because it is very difficult to play. It demands very long breath."

The band ordered their uniforms from Scotland in 2018. They have played at British embassy and Scottish association events and almost all curling bonspiels (tournaments) in China since 2016. Last year, they performed at the World Wheelchair Curling Championship, also held at the National Aquatics Center.

Zhang does not listen to Scottish band the Bay City Rollers or watch Glasgow soccer team Rangers FC, but he has tried curling before. "It's really difficult, so hard to be accurate. After the Olympics, I will definitely try it again."

The piper designed the band's logo himself, which has the letters Y and S, the initials of the Chinese characters yong shi, meaning brave warrior, a nod to the unofficial Scottish anthem Scotland the Brave. The letter S is shaped as a dragon, with the St Andrew's Cross as a background.

Although the full Highland dress follows the strict protocols, including the sporran, where Zhang keeps his cellphone, there is one wee detail the band does not judge sacred.

"We try to be as close as we can to traditions. But it's cold, we have our undies for sure."

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