From December 3 to 9, the World Women’s 9-Ball Championship will kick off in Sanya, Hainan. As one of the most attractive Grade A billiards events internationally, the tournament has been successfully held nine times in China since its introduction in 2009. Known for its large scale and high standards, it attracts numerous top female players from around the world every year, earning it the reputation of the “most beautiful tournament.” Sanya, blessed with exceptional tourism resources—including sunshine, seawater, beaches, hot springs, caves, and ethnic culture—boasts stunning natural scenery, first-class air quality, and rich cultural heritage, ranking among the best in China. The encounter of the “most beautiful tournament” with the “most beautiful landscape” represents a successful fusion of a top-tier sporting event IP with tourism, and marks another significant achievement in Sanya’s cultural and sports development.
Romantic Sanya Sees Booming Cultural and Sports Sector
The hosting of the 9-ball championship is a result of Sanya’s continuous efforts to develop its cultural and sports initiatives and enhance its urban competitiveness. According to statistics from the Sanya Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, Press and Publication, Sports in 2017, the city hosted 64 major events throughout the year, averaging one per week, ranking it among the top nationwide.
The development of Sanya’s cultural and sports sector can be traced back to 2004, when the 54th Miss World Finals were held in the city, opening the door to its cultural and sports development and attracting widespread attention both domestically and internationally. In 2008, Sanya stood out among 116 applicant cities to become the first domestic leg of the Olympic torch relay. Since then, the city’s cultural and sports development has gained momentum.
In 2012, the Sanya Half Moon Bay Sailing Port became the sole designated stopover port for the Volvo Ocean Race in China, paving the way for Sanya to secure multiple international sailing events in the future. Since 2016, a series of major cultural and sports events have been held in Sanya: the World Youth Sailing Championships, known as the “junior Olympics”; serving as one of the stopover cities and host ports for two seasons of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race from 2017 to 2019; winning the bid to host the 2020 Asian Beach Games; and organizing events such as the FINA Swimming Gala, China Sports Temple Fair, and World Yoga Festival. In recent years, Sanya’s cultural and sports sector has been gaining vitality, further enhancing the city’s influence and competitiveness.
Notably, the cultural and sports industry in Sanya has begun to show initial success in driving local economic growth. The 2017 World Youth Sailing Championships brought together over 400 athletes from 60 countries and regions to Sanya, generating nearly 68 million yuan in indirect economic benefits for related industries. During the 2018 ISY International Music Festival, participation exceeded 500,000 people, with total consumption approaching 1 billion yuan, setting a new high for Sanya’s tourism economy at the time.
The “Most Beautiful Tournament” Adds New Momentum
The hosting of the 2018 Women’s 9-Ball World Championship will not only satisfy the local community’s demand for cultural and sports activities through exciting billiards matches but also provide strong support for Sanya’s cultural and sports development. Additionally, since 2016, Sanya has launched the “Sanya Ball King” grassroots championship series, encouraging residents to participate in various fitness activities nearby. This year’s championship series kicked off in July and includes nine ball sports: five-a-side football, three-on-three basketball, tennis, table tennis, badminton, billiards, volleyball, woodball, and finger billiards. The 9-ball championship, along with the “Sanya Ball King” grassroots series, will extend to the community level, promoting and solidifying the development of nationwide fitness.
The arrival of the 9-ball championship will significantly enhance Sanya’s city image and boost the development of its sports and leisure tourism industry. This event is jointly organized by the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA), the Chinese Billiards & Snooker Association (CBSA), the Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports of Hainan Province, and the People’s Government of Sanya City, Hainan Province. It is hosted by the Sanya Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, Press and Publication, Sports, and undertaken by Beijing Guoao Zhonghe Culture Co., Ltd., with co-organization by Beijing Guoan Jinguang Football Development Co., Ltd. Dozens of mainstream media outlets, including People’s Daily, Xinhua News Agency, CCTV, China Tourism News, China Sports News, as well as Sina, Sohu, and Today’s Headlines, provided in-depth coverage. CCTV Sports Channel broadcast multiple matches live or recorded, effectively promoting the host city.
Hosting the 9-ball championship in Sanya is a great opportunity to showcase the city’s image. As a well-known sporting event IP, the 9-ball championship will generate considerable tourism consumption, bringing notable economic benefits to Sanya. At the same time, the successful hosting of the event will lay a solid foundation for Sanya to become a national sports tourism demonstration zone.