On October 10, the China Sports Culture Expo and the China Sports Tourism Expo officially kicked off in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. This event showcases a rich variety of exhibits, celebrating the accomplishments of China’s sports sector over the past 75 years, including the first gold medal won by the Chinese team at the upcoming Paris Olympics, autographs from Olympic champions like Quan Hongchan and Chen Meng, and trophies earned by generations of athletes.
The China Sports Culture Expo is hosted by the National Sports Administration and the Chinese Olympic Committee, making it the only expo currently organized by the National Sports Administration. The China Sports Tourism Expo, on the other hand, is co-hosted by the All-China Sports Federation, the Chinese Olympic Committee, and the China Tourism Association. This year’s theme is “New Sports Vibes—Building a Strong Nation for the Future.”
As it’s an Olympic year, enthusiasm for sports is at an all-time high. At the Paris Olympics, Chinese athletes are anticipated to achieve remarkable success, with hopes of replicating the stellar performance from the previous games, where they secured 40 gold, 27 silver, and 24 bronze medals—the best overseas performance since China began participating in the Summer Olympics in 1984. Over the 75 years since the founding of New China, Chinese athletes have claimed a total of 3,913 world championship titles and set 1,397 world records, showcasing a renewed image of China on the world stage.
Zhou Jinqiang, Deputy Director of the National Sports Administration, emphasized in his address that the spirit of Chinese sports and its excellent culture represent a valuable legacy forged by athletes, sports workers, and the general public through active participation and development in sports. He urged everyone to uphold the “two integrations”—furthering the inheritance of traditional Chinese sports culture while promoting the spirit of Chinese sports. Zhou also called for a focus on national priorities, a people-centered approach, and an exploration of deeper integration between sports, culture, and tourism. He expressed hopes that the expos would facilitate in-depth exchanges, fostering new paths and models for the development of sports culture, ultimately contributing to building a strong sports nation.
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach extended his congratulations via video, commending Chinese athletes for their outstanding achievements at the Paris Olympics and expressing sincere gratitude for China’s critical contributions to the success of the event. He looks forward to the two expos embodying the Olympic spirit and envisioning a bright future for sports in China and globally.
As the domestic sports event landscape becomes increasingly sophisticated and influential, international sports competitions are being held across China. Sports events have emerged as a significant motivator for young people’s travel. The trend toward branding and the IP development of sports tourism is growing more evident. Initiatives like “Traveling with Events” and involving sports activities in various locales are leveraging the attraction of sports events to create innovative new tourism opportunities that coincide with leisure periods and current trends such as the Paris Olympics, stimulating consumption potential across society.
Zhang Rungang, Vice President and Secretary-General of the China Tourism Association, noted the shared characteristics between sports and tourism. Their further integrated development can not only promote traditional Chinese culture and innovative growth in cultural sectors but also drive economic upgrades, contribute to high-quality societal development, and enhance the quality of service in happiness-driven industries. The China Tourism Association aims to serve as a bridge, collaborating with various regions to promote high-quality integration of culture, sports, and tourism in the new era.
The opening ceremony also featured a donation event by Olympic champions and presentations of outstanding cultural projects and premium sports tourism projects for 2024.
