Leveraging star power for charity

"However, society is evolving rapidly. With the widespread use of smartphones, we have observed that children and teenagers in rural areas, particularly the 'left-behind' children (whose parents work in cities, leaving them in the care of older relatives), are facing health issues due to smartphone addiction," he says during the speech.

"This challenges the traditional notion that rural children usually engage in outdoor activities like running in fields, climbing mountains and playing in streams — a stereotype that no longer holds true," adds Yao.

The sports star also warns that many rural children, lacking sufficient outdoor activities, exhibit a lower level of basic athletic abilities such as endurance, speed, strength and balance compared to their urban counterparts.

Zhang Liyi, director of Lichun Studio and the Star Talks producer, tells China Daily that the program initially drew inspiration from TED Talks.

Typically, celebrities express their thoughts through interviews, but delivering a public speech enables them to freely articulate what they wish to convey, making a heartfelt connection with the audience, Zhang explains.

"We aspire for celebrities to candidly reveal their inner thoughts and share their experiences and perspectives on various charitable causes with the public. This aims to pique public interest and motivate more individuals to engage in charitable endeavors through this year's program," she adds.

Aside from serious topics and touching moments, the livestream of the speeches was sometimes funny. One such moment occurred when Yao, standing 2.26 meters tall, took the stage.

"We thought about adjusting the height of the props and backdrop screen to match Yao's stature. However, when the day arrived and he walked onto the stage, the props appeared as small toys. We joked that most of us looked like dolls standing next to him," Zhang says.

Another intriguing memory for Zhang stems from a speech given by Huang Zihongfan, a singer who recounted his experience working as an animal caregiver at the wildlife shelter and rescue center in Nanjing Hongshan Forest Zoo for a day.