Fully implementing the spirit of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Second and Third Plenary Sessions of the 19th CPC Central Committee, and the Two Sessions, while thoroughly carrying out the important speeches of General Secretary Xi Jinping. Closely centering on realizing the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation and the dream of building a strong sports nation, we will firmly uphold cultural confidence in socialism with Chinese characteristics and adhere to a people-centered approach. We will also implement the principles outlined in key documents such as the “Healthy China 2030 Outline,” the “National Fitness Program (2016–2020),” and the “Several Opinions on Accelerating the Development of the Sports Industry and Promoting Sports Consumption.” Additionally, the “13th Five-Year Plan for Sports Development” proposes accelerating the construction of sports project culture, launching the Sports Culture Boutique Construction Project, fully tapping into the diverse values of sports, and carefully fostering cultures of public welfare, philanthropy, and volunteering within sports. Using sports as a medium to interpret the Chinese Dream, efforts will be made to promote Chinese sports culture to the world.
New Era, New Sports, New Life
Against this backdrop, the 2018 China Sports Culture Expo and China Sports Tourism Expo (hereinafter referred to as the “Sports & Culture Travel Expo”) will be held from December 11 to December 13, 2018, at the Guangzhou Poly World Trade Center Expo. Themed “New Era, New Sports, New Life,” this edition of the expo will invite experts, scholars, and corporate representatives from the global sports culture and sports tourism sectors to share industry insights. It will also feature 40,000 square meters of exhibitions and professional forums related to sports culture and sports tourism. Whether you're an industry insider or a sports enthusiast, you're sure to experience the spirit of sports culture and the joy of sports tourism in this international event. The expo, with an international perspective, builds a high-end platform for showcasing, industrial matchmaking, and comprehensive business opportunities in sports culture and tourism from a national strategic level.
It is reported that the 2018 China Sports Culture Expo is jointly organized by the General Administration of Sport of China and the Chinese Olympic Committee, and is currently the only expo sponsored solely by the General Administration of Sport of China. The China Sports Tourism Expo is co-hosted by the All-China Sports Federation, the Chinese Olympic Committee, and the China Tourism Association, and is a high-level exhibition in the sports tourism industry. Both expos are organized by the Guangzhou Municipal People’s Government, the Cultural Development Center of the General Administration of Sport of China, International Data Group (IDG), and IDG Sports. The event fully leverages the strengths and unique features of the Cultural Center of the General Administration of Sport of China in researching sports history and culture, promoting sports cultural activities, planning and executing large-scale sports exhibitions, and guiding sports film and television production. Combined with the collections of the China Sports Museum and high-quality sports resources from various provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities, it has created a comprehensive, professional, and market-oriented sports exhibition platform to promote global sports industry exchanges and drive the integrated development of sports culture and sports tourism industries.
Premium Configuration to Create a New Feast of Sports & Culture Travel
The exhibition includes: the Sports Culture Theme Exhibition Area (featuring traditional Chinese sports culture, achievements in competitive sports, mass fitness results, and the development of winter sports), the Sports Culture Tourism Creative Exhibition Area (showcasing creative products, service agencies, creative institutions, and education and training organizations in sports culture tourism), the Sports Technology and Wellness Exhibition Area (covering sports technology, smart venue design and operation, sports media and platforms, and interactive experience zones), the International Sports Organizations Exhibition Area (including national delegations, international sports organizations, and international sports culture and event organizers), the Sports Brands Exhibition Area (featuring well-known domestic and international sports and event brands), and the Regional Sports Culture Tourism Exhibition Area (displaying outstanding local ethnic, folk, and cultural elements, sports culture, sports leisure towns, sports tourism demonstration bases, scenic spots, events, routes, destinations, and theme parks). Each area offers a rich variety of displays.
In addition, the event creates direct communication opportunities for the media, manufacturers, channels, and users. A series of forums, led by the main forum “China International Sports Culture and Tourism Summit Forum,” include the Sports Business Summit, Museum Directors’ Forum, International Sports Think Tank Closed-door Meeting, Olympic Culture Development Forum, Youth Sports Development Forum, Sports Culture & Tourism Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition & Venture Capital Forum, Sports Marketing and Event IP Forum, Cultural Tourism Industry Development Forum, and Winter Sports Industry Forum. The forums will invite over a hundred guests, including global industry leaders, scholars, executives of renowned companies, investors, and entrepreneurs, to deliver speeches and engage in interactions. They will provide in-depth analysis of trends in the sports culture and tourism industries, share international innovations and advanced experiences, and facilitate connections between capital and projects.
During the exhibition, more than ten supporting activities will be held, including the Sports Tourism Boutique Project Selection, International Media Conference, Mind Sports Games, Sports Culture & Tourism Expo Ambassador Series, freestyle football performances, traditional sports performances, RV experiences, traditional Chinese archery experiences, football experiences, snowball fights, real curling experiences, and Happy Hour — offering a rich array of experiences to allow every visitor to feel the charm of sports culture and sports tourism.
Gathering of Influencers to Experience a New Sports & Culture Travel Lifestyle
According to reports, the organizing committee has extensively invited representatives from international organizations. Guests confirmed to attend include World Badminton Federation President Poul-Erik Høyer, World Badminton Federation Secretary-General Thomas Lund, FIBA Central Board Member and Oceania President Burton Shipley (also Chair of the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup Coordination Committee), International Mind Sports Association President José Damiani, Secretary-General of the World Olympians Association Mélanie Duparc, President of the International Sports Press Association Gianni Merlo, and Chairman of the Hong Kong Olympic Committee Timothy Fok. Chinese Olympic gold medalist Xu Haifeng, Yang Yang (Chair of the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Sports Commission), diving legend Gao Min (China’s first Olympic women’s springboard gold medalist), Olympic men’s foil champion Lei Sheng, Chinese women’s volleyball team star Zhang Changning, and taekwondo Olympic champion Wu Jingyu have been appointed as ambassadors for the expo. Former Olympic host city mayors, senior international sports experts, and scholars have been invited to join the expo’s International Sports Think Tank to offer advice for the development of China’s sports culture and tourism industries. Representatives of foreign sports culture and tourism will also be invited to participate in exhibitions and engage in business and other forms of cooperation.
Comprehensive Upgrade to Usher in a New Era of Sports & Culture Travel
This edition of the Sports & Culture Travel Expo is packed with highlights and represents a comprehensive upgrade from previous years. During the event, a closed-door meeting of the International Sports Think Tank will be held, inviting senior international experts and scholars to contribute ideas for the development of China’s sports culture and tourism industries. The Olympic Culture Development Forum will invite mayors of past Olympic host cities to discuss urban development strategies. The expo will also collaborate with countries along the Belt and Road, strengthening exchanges and cooperation to enable sports culture and tourism to play a demonstrative and radiating role in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Furthermore, through the Sports Culture & Tourism Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, the expo will leverage IDG’s extensive international sports resources and leading position in industry investment to attract premium projects such as internationally renowned brands, modern popular events, top-tier international sports education and training bases, sports science labs, and sports tech incubators.
Staying true to our mission and forging ahead. As China’s sports industry enters a fast lane of development, it will rapidly integrate with fields such as “Internet+,” “AI+,” and the “Internet of Things.” Built upon the foundations of mass fitness and the sports industry, it will integrate resources across education, healthcare, finance, tourism, and culture under the “sports+” framework to construct a new, advanced sports ecosystem — leading the way into a new era, with new sports and a new lifestyle.
To learn more about the “2018 China Sports Culture Expo and China Sports Tourism Expo,” please visit the official website: http://www.cectexpo.com/