October 11, 2016, Beijing — A press conference for the International Winter Sports (Beijing) Expo (WWSE) was held on the morning of October 11 at the Beijing Municipal Government Press Conference Hall. The organizers, the Beijing Olympic City Development Association and International Data Group (IDG), shared the latest developments of the Expo in detail.
— Xu Zhou, Vice President of International Data Group (IDG) Asia
Winter sports focus on Asia, with high-level dialogue paving the way
In the next decade, the world’s attention will turn to Asia. The consecutive hosting of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, and the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics will project Asia’s Olympic movement onto the global stage. The uniqueness and influence of the Olympics will also make Asian winter sports a focal point worldwide, while bringing tremendous opportunities for China to advance its winter sports and related industries. Facing the promising future of winter sports development in China and across Asia, this edition of the Expo will launch the “2016 International Winter Sports (Beijing) Expo Opening Ceremony & Main Forum” during the exhibition period. It will review, discuss, and envision successful experiences and trends in the global ice and snow industry, deeply analyze the current state of China’s ice and snow market, and identify development paths suitable for Chinese ice and snow enterprises.
Themed “Opening the Future,” this forum will lead a series of parallel sessions including the Winter Sports Equipment & Technology Forum, Ski Resort Operations & Management Forum, Internet + Sports Marketing Forum, Winter Sports Tourism Industry Forum, Winter Sports Talent Development Forum, and Ice & Snow Industry Investment & Financing Seminar. The forum will take a global perspective on the development trends of the ice and snow industry while focusing on the progress of China’s ice and snow sector. Numerous domestic and international industry leaders will attend, including officials from the General Administration of Sport of China, Beijing Municipality, Hebei Province, and the Beijing 2022 Organizing Committee, as well as representatives from the sports and tourism departments of Hebei, Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang provinces and autonomous regions. Officials from Beijing’s Yanqing District and Zhangjiakou City in Hebei Province will also be present. Representatives from seven major international winter sports organizations will join, such as Ivo Ferriani, President of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation; Kate Caithness, President of the World Curling Federation; and Anders Besseberg, President of the International Biathlon Union. Juerg Schmid, Director General of Switzerland Tourism, and Hiroaki Kono, Vice President of the Nagano Prefecture Ski Federation in Japan, are among the international figures attending. Additionally, Xiong Xiaoge, Global Managing Director of IDG and Founding Partner of IDG Capital, will participate in the forum, engaging in high-level dialogue with top industry representatives, international figures, and sector leaders.
Unlocking ice and snow consumption, seizing opportunities for industrial upgrading
The rise of the winter sports craze and active encouragement from national sports policies have made it possible for a broader population to engage in ice and snow activities. Winter sports feature a long industrial chain and involve numerous sectors: winter sports leisure, venue and facility construction, equipment development, production and sales, event training, as well as related industries such as tourism, real estate, hospitality, catering, and entertainment, all of which can achieve integrated and synergistic development alongside the growth of the ice and snow industry. With China’s economic development, consumer demand for enjoyment and self-development is gradually rising, and winter sports are transitioning from niche professional activities to mass-participation consumer events, thus creating opportunities for industrial upgrading across the entire value chain.
This Winter Expo is also dedicated to promoting public ice and snow consumption and driving industrial upgrading. During the four-day exhibition, visitors can gain comprehensive insights into popular ski resorts and winter tourism destinations, explore the unique appeal and latest products of global winter sports powerhouses, and experience cutting-edge intelligent sports equipment and the most advanced ice and snow technologies firsthand. In addition, the exhibition will host over ten supporting activities, including the release of the “China Ice and Snow Industry Development Report,” the selection of the “Top 30 Chinese Ski Resorts,” the “National Geographic Photo Exhibition” by the U.S., displays of “Olympic Memorabilia,” and the selection of the “Top 50 Winter Sports Clubs,” showcasing the unique charm of winter sports from all angles.
The Beijing 2022 Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will also showcase the latest progress of the Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics at this Expo. Exhibits include updates on the preparation work for the 2022 Games, a one-year review, images from professional planning meetings and major events, regional plans for the three competition zones and all venues, introductions to venue exteriors and interior designs, descriptions of Olympic and Paralympic events, and images of the seven sports. The Organizing Committee will also provide the public with opportunities for close-up engagement with winter sports. Visitors can take a hot air balloon ride for an aerial view of the Yanqing competition zone and personally experience ski jumping, bobsleigh and luge, as well as an intelligent photo system. The participation of the Organizing Committee will help the public gain a deeper understanding of the Winter Olympics and Paralympics, attracting more people to experience and actively engage in ice and snow sports.
About the International Winter Sports Expo (WWSE): The International Winter Sports (Beijing) Expo (World Winter Sports Expo) is a global, professional, and authoritative winter sports exhibition jointly organized by the Beijing Olympic City Development Association and International Data Group (IDG). Its goal is to promote the popularization of winter sports knowledge in China and realize the vision of “getting 300 million people involved in ice and snow sports.” Starting in 2016, the Expo will be held annually in Beijing, China, and is set to become the world’s largest and most authoritative ice and snow sports event. With a professional and national-level positioning, the Expo has received support and participation from the International Olympic Committee and the seven winter sports federations of the Olympic Winter Games. It will contribute to the preparation of the Winter Olympics, promote the overall advancement of sports in China, and foster and lead the vigorous development of the winter sports industry in China.