Beijing trade fair highlights country's growing profile in sports industry worldwide

Visitors to the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) at Shougang Park try out some of the technology-enhanced facilities that were on display. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

The 2022 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) was held from Aug 31 to Sept 5 in Beijing at the China National Convention Center and Shougang Park, both of which played host to the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games earlier this year.

Situated near Beijing 2022's iconic Big Air ramp at the park, the 2022 CIFTIS sports services exhibition showcased cutting-edge technologies, applications and products.

"We always knew about the formidable willingness, capabilities and commitment of the organizers in China," Christophe Dubi, the Olympic Games executive director of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said via video link during a CIFTIS sports conference, adding that China will contribute more to the Olympics and the global sports industry.

Opportunity knocks

The China National Convention Center served as the Main Media Center during the Winter Games, with posters of the Beijing 2022 motto－"Together for a Shared Future"－and CIFTIS signs jointly adorning the venue during the exhibition.

This was the first time since the Games that the center has hosted an exhibition.

"What we see is the commitment of Beijing to sustain this effect in the long term by using sports as a catalyst for sustainable development," said Marie Sallois, the IOC's director of corporate and sustainable development.

"The Games were outstanding. To develop winter sports competence was always identified as a challenge, but also a tremendous opportunity. This exhibition is for international companies to demonstrate their capabilities in winter sports, especially for innovation," Dubi said.

Zhang Li, vice-president of the China branch of IDG Capital, an organizer of the CIFTIS sports services section, said Beijing 2022 has been important for the industry's development worldwide.

"Before the Beijing Winter Olympics were held, I knew a world-leading snowboard company in Europe that did not pay much attention to the Chinese market. The company's director was not familiar with China and preferred the strong European market. But since China presented an outstanding Winter Games, the company swiftly adjusted its strategy and sent a team to China," Zhang Li said.

More than 300 million Chinese people participated in winter sports in the build-up to the 2022 Games, and more gains are forecast.

"Technological development enables a wider range of participation, boosting the winter sports industry," added Zhang Li.

Visitors to the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) at Shougang Park try out some of the technology-enhanced facilities that were on display. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Cutting-edge tech

With the use of augmented reality or virtual reality (AR/VR) headsets, visitors to CIFTIS could experience the thrill of sports such as ski jumping and Alpine skiing. A pair of tension-adjustable ski shoes, for instance, helped people get the feel of different 'slopes'.

"Thanks to artificial intelligence (AI) technology, the shoes receive data from the sensors which detect the altitude, landform and hardness of the snow. The shoes adjust the tension accordingly," said exhibitor Zhang Andong.

In addition, technologies used at the Olympics were on display at CIFTIS, including an intelligent winter sports training system, the cloud museum of the Winter Olympics, and a multi-cam, 360-degree replay viewing system.

The sports-related technologies were developed at a rapid speed over the past few years and will continue to serve the public, say experts.

"According to our survey, many exhibitors have signed cooperation projects with each other or the government. CIFTIS provides a platform for this cooperation," Zhang Li said.

International cooperation

More than 400 Global Fortune 500 companies and industry-leading enterprises attended the fair offline. In the sports section, more than 100 exhibitors from over 30 countries and regions displayed their products at Shougang Park, including Austria, Italy, Japan, Canada, the UK and the Netherlands.

The snow-making equipment from Italy and the cable cars from Austria that featured at Beijing 2022 were highlights of the fair's sports section.

Andreas Riecken, the Austrian ambassador to China, said: "China is a partner of Austria in the development of winter sports. Our cooperation should work both ways－the Chinese coming to Austria and Austrians visiting China. China's winter sports industry will be even better in the future, and a lot of people will enjoy the process."

Nico Schiettekatte, counselor of health, welfare and sports at the Netherlands' embassy in China, echoed those sentiments.

"I hope China and the Netherlands can strengthen cooperation in the ice and snow industry. Dutch companies have already invested in ice rinks in Beijing and Shanghai. It is always great to enable more young people to participate in winter sports," he said.

"The world knows that ice and snow are never too far thanks to the very strong vision of the Chinese authorities and their capabilities to deliver the Games," Dubi said, adding that China has established itself as an exciting destination on the Olympic map.