Impressive Venue Facilities and Attentive Event Services: Why International Competitions Favor China
Core Reading
In recent years, multiple international sporting events have been held in China, receiving high praise for their first-rate venue facilities and thoughtful event services. Cultural exchange activities have further showcased China’s unique charm to the world. There is hope for even more high-level international events to be hosted in China, unlocking the comprehensive value of these competitions and promoting the development of the sports industry, ensuring that the achievements of organizing such events are shared by all.
Recently, the 2024 UCI World Junior Track Cycling Championships and the 2024 FIVB U19 Beach Volleyball World Championships were held in Luoyang, Henan Province, and Shangluo, Shaanxi Province, respectively. Both events attracted competitors from dozens of countries and regions. Throughout the tournaments, thousands of spectators visited the venues daily to experience the thrill of high-level competitions up close. “Chinese audiences are incredibly enthusiastic, and I hope to have another chance to compete here in the future,” said 18-year-old Colombian cyclist Stephanie.
In recent years, China has hosted numerous international multi-sport and single-sport events, building rich experience and gradually demonstrating the comprehensive benefits of event organization. From conceptual models, facilities, to operational management, China’s event hosting has left a deep impression on organizers and participants worldwide. Many executives from international sports organizations have visited China, eager to establish deeper cooperative relationships.
Outstanding Infrastructure
“Watching here feels like being at the Olympics”
This year marked the first time the World Junior Track Cycling Championships were held in China. “The organizing committee made significant efforts to enhance the venue’s infrastructure, and the staff were diligent in providing excellent conditions for the athletes,” said Elder Ferreira, event coordinator for the UCI.
During the competition, athletes battled fiercely, while spectators cheered passionately in the stands. Huang Hongzhang, from the venue management department at the Luoyang Citizen Fitness Center, expressed his pride, saying, “The hard work was worth it.” In the months leading up to the event, he and his team worked diligently to upgrade the venue’s facilities to meet UCI standards. The breaking of records and the roar of the crowd served as tributes to the organizers’ efforts.
“This is the first time Shangluo has hosted a world championship. We prepared for this event for over a year,” explained Wu Dan, deputy head of the competition organizing committee for the U19 Beach Volleyball World Championship and a deputy district mayor. The main venue, set against the iconic Qinling Museum, was equipped with over 2,000 seats, and the sand used in the competition met Olympic standards regarding granule size, sharpness, and color.
The stringent requirements for facilities in track cycling emphasize the increasing improvements in China’s sports infrastructure and the rising quality of its event hosting capabilities. Ferreira noted that the 2026 World Track Cycling Championships are set to take place in Shanghai, and the UCI aims to welcome more high-level cycling events to China.
In Zhengzhou, the successful hosting of the Laser Run World Championships and the Modern Pentathlon World Championships left a lasting impression on UIPM President Klaus Schormann. “This was a very successful event. Watching here feels like being at the Olympics.” After the event, Schormann planted a seedling at the Zhengzhou Olympic Center, hoping that modern pentathlon would take root and grow here.
The Laser Run and the Modern Pentathlon Championships were organized in just over 300 days, with venue preparations completed in just 20 days to meet Olympic standards. As a sport that combines fencing, swimming, horseback riding, and laser run, athletes were impressed by the “five-in-one” venue, a standard only previously seen at the Tokyo Olympics and Hangzhou Asian Games. “From the competition venue to broadcasting, accommodation, and transportation arrangements, the details prove that Zhengzhou has outstanding conditions for hosting events,” Schormann added.
Exceptional Service
“We are very confident when entrusting events to China”
This year, the first two legs of the 2024 Diamond League were held in Xiamen and Suzhou. As the premier one-day athletics event, the fact that two of the 15 Diamond League events take place in China underscores the World Athletics’ trust in the country. Furthermore, the 2025 World Indoor Athletics Championships and the 2027 World Athletics Championships are scheduled for Nanjing and Beijing, respectively, while the World Road Running Championships and World Relay Championships will take place in Yangzhou and Guangzhou.
In April, World Athletics President Sebastian Coe visited China to attend the Diamond League event in Xiamen. “Every event held in China is exceptionally well organized,” he remarked, expressing gratitude for China’s willingness to play a crucial role in the reform and development of global athletics. “We are very confident when entrusting events to China.”
With over 20,000 spectators attending and 11 meeting records broken, the 2024 Diamond League in Xiamen once again reaffirmed Coe’s words. The organizing committee implemented a “1 Kilometer Service Plan,” expanding event services within a one-kilometer radius of the Baijin Sports Stadium, enhancing attendees’ experience through better guidance, increased dining options, and other amenities.
“By hosting the qualification series for the Paris Olympics, China has once again set a benchmark for the IOC’s event organization.” In May, in Shanghai’s Huangpu Riverside City Park, IOC President Thomas Bach praised China’s event hosting capabilities. During the preparation period, the IOC and Shanghai worked seamlessly together to transform the theme of “younger, urban, and more open” into a reality, presenting an outstanding event.
Remarkable Outcomes
“Looking forward to deeper collaboration with China”
As night fell, the Tiansheng City Square in Xiaogan, Hubei became bustling with life. The recent 2024 FIBA 3×3 Basketball World Cup qualifying event in Xiaogan attracted a large local crowd. Beyond athletics, participants toured Tiansheng City and engaged with students, sharing basketball skills and interacting with the community.
FIBA Secretary-General Andreas Zagklis mentioned that following the Basketball World Cup held in China in 2019, an important initiative was to establish a FIBA office dedicated to promoting international events in the region and popularizing basketball knowledge and skills. “We greatly value the long-term development of basketball in China and look forward to deeper cooperation,” said Zagklis.
With a focus on promoting fitness for all, integrating sports and tourism, and stimulating sports consumption, China’s hosting of international events has reached new heights. Using the opportunity of hosting volleyball events, Shangluo has developed over 1,000 sports and fitness facilities, including more than 200 high-standard volleyball courts. Currently, there are over 500 volleyball teams in the area, effectively driving urban development through sports competitions.
In Xiamen, aiming to tap into the potential of sports consumption, the organizing committee of the Diamond League coordinated with 9 cities in Fujian and 2,000 businesses to hold a nearly month-long sports consumption festival, offering various travel packages and over 1 million yuan in subsidies to attract tourists to the event.
At the outset of the Modern Pentathlon Championships in Zhengzhou, the organizing philosophy was to “promote the integration of sports and cultural tourism.” The “Travel with the Competition” initiative was met with enthusiasm, as many athletes and tourists participated, turning the event’s exposure into economic growth.
Wang Yuxiong, director of the Sports Economics Research Center at Central University of Finance and Economics, noted that China’s recent international event hosting has shifted its focus from scale and spectacle to emphasizing quality and detail. This shift has modernized and internationalized the standards of event organization. He also emphasized that regions should fully explore the potential of sports events, unlocking their comprehensive value for the benefit of all.
