The 2017 Annual Finals of the VITAI China Climbing Club League – Jiàntóu Cup concluded successfully

At 10:00 AM on January 25, 2018, the opening ceremony of the VITAI China Climbing Club League – “Jiàntóu Cup” 2017 Annual Finals was grandly held at the Mangrove Tree Resort World in Sanya Bay, Hainan. At the same time, the year-end finals of the China Climbing League also commenced as scheduled. Leaders and guests from the organizing bodies—the Chinese Mountaineering Association and the Department of Culture, Radio, Television, Press and Publication, Sports of Hainan Province; the executive organizers—the Department of Culture, Radio, Television, Press and Publication, Sports of Sanya City and the Mangrove Tree Hotel Sanya; the sponsor—Urumqi Economic and Technological Development Zone Construction Investment and Development Co., Ltd.; and the exclusive operator—Shizhi Sports, among others, attended the opening ceremony.

The event attracted nearly 100 media outlets and around 1,000 climbing enthusiasts to watch the competition, creating an exceptionally lively atmosphere. As one of the highest-level climbing competitions in China, the China Climbing Club League holds significant influence. This year-end finale gathered about 70 elite athletes from 20 clubs across the country, who delivered a top-tier, thrilling competition for the audience.

The event featured team bouldering as the main competition format, consisting of three rounds: the Top 20, knockout rounds, and a speed PK. In the end, Climbingism Team One, Wuhan Victory Rock Climbing Gym, and Guangzhou Qíngtiān Rock Climbing Club claimed the top three spots in the VITAI China Climbing Club League – “Jiàntóu Cup” 2017 Annual Finals, and also received generous prize money.

With climbing becoming an official sport in the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the China Climbing Club League has become a focal point of outdoor sports events in recent years and plays a significant role in propelling Chinese climbing into a new era. It is reported that the China Climbing Club League is China’s top-tier points-based league, involving a national referee team directly affiliated with the Climbing Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China. Since the 2015–2016 season, the league has adopted a new model of “national qualifiers + year-end finals,” and introduced both professional and elite divisions in the finals, along with a brand-new “team bouldering” competition format. These innovations not only provide a high-level competitive platform for professional climbers but also offer a space for exchange and learning for climbing enthusiasts, thus creating more opportunities for a broader range of sports fans to participate.

In addition to the competitive aspect, the VITAI China Climbing Club League – “Jiàntóu Cup” 2017 Annual Finals also featured a variety of cultural performances to enhance the overall experience for participants. On-site performances included the cheerleading routine “Climbing Babies,” the dance “Passionate Samba,” and the song performance “Believe in Yourself.” These added a more vibrant and joyful atmosphere to the climbing competition while presenting the energy and dynamism inherent in the sport in a comprehensive and multi-dimensional way, delivering a carnival-like climbing feast that combined fun and entertainment for the audience.

Sanya, Hainan, is an international tourist city known for its tropical coastal scenery. As the host city for the 2017 Annual Finals of the league, Sanya offers superior event conditions and a favorable climate. In recent years, Sanya has been actively promoting cultural, sports, and urban development. The hosting of the China Climbing Club League presents an excellent opportunity for Sanya and even Hainan Province to build the “sports + tourism” brand concept. It not only helps transform traditional sightseeing tourism but also leverages mass sports experiences to create a unique urban brand, driving sustainable and differentiated tourism development and fostering harmonious economic and social prosperity.

Since its inception, the China Climbing Club League has continuously optimized the competition experience and enhanced its influence, creating a leisure and entertainment platform that integrates “professional competition, public fitness, and cultural tourism” for the general public. Within the positive environment of sports + tourism development, Chinese climbing is bound to thrive in Sanya and make a significant contribution to the advancement of mass sports and the promotion of national fitness initiatives.