The countdown to the first Winter Expo has begun—get ready for an exciting ice and snow extravaganza.
An unmissable ice and snow event for global winter sports enthusiasts is set to kick off in Beijing. The 2016 International Winter Sports (Beijing) Expo (WWSE), jointly organized by the Beijing Olympic City Development Association and International Data Group (IDG), aims to promote the development of winter sports in China and advance the ice and snow industry. It will be held from October 19 to 22, 2016, at the China National Convention Center in Beijing. Currently in the final stages of preparation, the expo will transform the venue into a "winter wonderland," attracting an estimated 100,000 guests and visitors from around the world. Attendees can look forward to a rich, innovative, and interactive winter sports exhibition experience.
The 2016 edition marks the inaugural Winter Expo, which will return annually in Beijing for winter sports fans. Spanning over 20,000 square meters, the first expo features four core sections—winter sports, events and culture, outdoor and leisure, and interactive experiences—as well as an Olympic-themed exhibition area. Visitors can explore cutting-edge winter sports products and the latest industry developments from over 400 top global companies and organizations, immersing themselves in the excitement and charm of winter sports. The event will also host the opening ceremony and main forum of the 2016 International Winter Sports (Beijing) Expo, themed "Opening the Future," bringing together over 100 industry leaders from China and abroad for in-depth discussions.
Xiong Xiaoge, Global Managing Partner of International Data Group and Founding Partner of IDG Capital, stated: "Over the next decade, China will be the hottest growth market for winter sports worldwide. Given the immense potential of the Chinese market, the International Winter Sports (Beijing) Expo will effectively integrate top domestic and international companies, resources, and investors in the winter sports industry, significantly driving the interconnected development of the entire ice and snow industry chain, and helping establish China as a winter sports powerhouse."
Cool tech joins the fun, making winter sports even more exciting
While technological innovation is transforming the world and changing how people exercise, a healthier, more active lifestyle is being embraced by more and more individuals. The intersection of technology and winter sports continues to spark exciting developments, offering both enthusiasts and industry professionals increasingly immersive experiences. What once seemed like distant dreams—such as "climbing Mount Everest from home" or "casually skating during breaks"—are now becoming possible thanks to advancements in technologies like the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, and "Internet+". As the most cutting-edge expo in the ice and snow industry, the first Winter Expo will closely integrate with "ice tech," showcasing the latest highlights in global winter sports while delivering an extraordinary interactive experience for all visitors.
The exhibition is divided into four core sections, allowing visitors to gain a comprehensive understanding of the latest products and trends in winter sports from four perspectives: winter sports, events and culture, outdoor and leisure, and interactive experiences. Among these, the most advanced virtual reality (VR) technology will make its debut in the "Internet + Sports" zone, offering an immersive virtual skiing experience that transports participants from the China National Convention Center to snowy ski slopes, kicking off the autumn’s first ice and snow adventure. Popular "ice tech" offerings such as winter sports e-commerce, simulation systems, smart gear, and app experiences will also be on full display, delivering a tech-driven winter sports experience.
The winter sports exhibition area will feature national pavilions from snow and ice countries, with heavyweights from Switzerland, Japan, Germany, the United States, Austria, and Finland showcasing their top enterprises, allowing visitors to experience authentic alpine charm without leaving China. Regions including Yanqing, Zhangjiakou, Liaoning, Heilongjiang, and Xinjiang will also participate, offering insights into the unique strengths of domestic winter destinations. Leading ski resorts such as Dolomiti, Taiwu, and Secret Garden, along with top brands like Shandong Century Star (simulated snow manufacturers) and Carbón (ski resort service providers), will present their premium products and services.
The events and culture section will include Olympic-themed displays, international sports organization zones, winter tourism and event promotion areas, and international brand collaboration zones, delivering an authoritative and engaging winter sports cultural journey. Visitors can explore the Li Keran Art Academy’s Ice and Snow Gallery, the China National Geography photo exhibition, Olympic memorabilia displays, Club Med, Kunlun Hongxing Huaxing Sports, State-owned Assets Company, Shougang Ice and Snow Industrial Park, Wukesong, and other related organizations. Additionally, the Beijing 2022 Organizing Committee for the Winter Olympics and Paralympics will make a significant appearance, showcasing the latest progress, one-year review, and professional meeting images for the Olympic zones, major event photos, regional plans for the three competition zones and all venues, venue exteriors and interior designs, event introductions, and photo galleries for the seven sports. The committee will also offer visitors rare opportunities to engage with winter sports, including hot air balloon rides over the scenic Yanqing zone, trying ski jumping, bobsleigh, and luge, and experiencing smart photography systems—offering unprecedented insights into the innovation and appeal of tech-driven Winter Olympics.
The interactive experience zone will deliver a dazzling array of performances. A 500-square-meter real ice rink will host skating clubs and art troupes performing ice hockey, figure skating, thrilling ice hockey matches, and ice dragon boat races, allowing visitors to enjoy the thrill of winter sports in the golden autumn. A dedicated curling experience area will also be available. The zone will feature exciting "Kunlun Fight" martial arts performances and interactions, as well as snowball battles organized by youth teams from Beijing schools, where students will engage in spirited snow fights using real snowballs, kicking off the winter sports craze with youthful energy.
Exciting supporting activities offer endless fun and novelty
Promoting mass winter sports consumption and popularizing winter sports are also key goals of the expo. Over the four-day event, visitors can explore popular ski resorts and winter destinations, the latest winter sports products, and smart gear, experiencing cutting-edge ice and snow technology. More than ten supporting industry activities will run concurrently, including the release of the *China Ice and Snow Industry Development Report*, winter photo exhibitions, and "Olympic memorabilia" displays, offering a rich cultural feast for attendees. The winter photo exhibition will feature stunning, uniquely framed works from China National Geography, allowing winter sports enthusiasts to feel the joy and passion of the season firsthand.
A series of winter sports project promotion events will also be introduced, providing an excellent platform to learn about various domestic and international projects. These include promotions for Yanqing winter projects, international ice dragon boat events, the Altay government, Shandong Century Star, Shenzhen Yuke Electronics Technology, as well as special sessions for Zhangjiakou (a top domestic winter destination) and Club Med France.
Global elites focus on the Winter Expo, top experts discuss the future of ice and snow
The 2016 "International Winter Sports (Beijing) Expo Opening Ceremony and Main Forum," running alongside the expo and themed "Opening the Future," will lead parallel forums on winter sports equipment and technology, ski resort operations, Internet+ sports marketing, winter sports tourism, talent development, and investment in the ice and snow industry. Over 100 industry leaders from the International Olympic Committee, the seven winter sports federations, and leading companies will gather for two days of discussions on October 19–20, focusing on global trends and the progress of China’s winter sports industry.
About the International Winter Sports Beijing Expo (WWSE)
The International Winter Sports (Beijing) Expo (World Winter Sports Expo) is a global, professional winter sports exhibition jointly organized by the Beijing Olympic City Development Association and International Data Group (IDG). Its goal is to promote winter sports awareness in China and support the "300 million people on snow and ice" initiative. The first edition launched in 2016 and will be held annually in Beijing, China, establishing itself as the world’s largest and most authoritative winter sports expo. With a professional, national-level focus, the expo is supported by the International Olympic Committee and the seven winter sports federations, contributing to Olympic preparations, advancing China’s sports industry, and fostering the growth of the winter sports sector in China.
About International Data Group (IDG)
International Data Group (IDG) is the world’s largest information technology publishing, research, exhibition, and venture capital company. Founded in 1964 and headquartered in Boston, USA, IDG operates subsidiaries in 90 countries and regions, employing 13,270 senior researchers and editorial staff. Utilizing modern information processing methods such as email, databases, telex, and online services, IDG has built a fast and comprehensive global information network. IDG entered the Chinese market in 1979, establishing the first Sino-American joint venture, International Data China Investment Company. Its core businesses include media partnerships, market research, venture capital, and exhibition events. Over the past 33 years, IDG China has maintained an impressive annual growth rate of around 50%, the highest among all its global regions.