Representatives take a group photo in the forum.

The 2024 Understanding China Conference is being held in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong province from Dec 2 to 4. A special forum on "Understanding China through Sports" was held on Nov 2. This is the first time that such a forum has been held since the first Understanding China Conference, aiming to help the world better understand China's sports in the new era.

At the forum, renowned scholars in the field of sports from both domestic and international arenas, Olympic champions, media experts, and representatives from enterprises engaged in in-depth discussions on topics such as trends in sports industry innovation, unlocking the secrets to activating sports consumption, the path to building sports cities, and the evolving models of sports communication.

Addressing the forum, Zhu Xiaoyi, vice director of the Guangzhou division executive committee of the 15th National Games and the Special Olympics and deputy secretary-general of the Guangzhou municipal people's government, stated that understanding China through sports involves understanding the historical development of sports from significant discourses, recognizing the strides of national prosperity and strength through competitive sports, appreciating the achievements in public health through public sports, understanding China's booming economy through the sports industry, and decoding the trends of Chinese sports through sports communication.

Shen Minghao, member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China Guangdong University of Foreign Studies Committee and the university's vice-president, highlighted the "super connectivity effect" in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area will enhance the attractiveness of the Greater Bay Area in terms of cultural and sports talent, foreseeing that the 15th National Games that will expand in influence and further improve the connectivity of sports facilities and integration of sports rules in the region.

Xian Dongmei, judo Olympic champion, shared her sports career journey, expressing how her passion for sports drove her to persevere and overcome challenges. She hopes that the sportsmanship can inspire more individuals, emphasizing the positive educational impact of sports training on young people in enhancing physical fitness, resilience, and overall well-being.

Li Xiaopeng, gymnastics Olympic champion, said he views the 15th National Games not only as a grand sports event but also as an excellent opportunity for the world to understand China better, showcasing the vibrancy and strength of Chinese sports to global audience.

Yi Siling, shooting Olympic champion, highlighted sports as a valuable window to understand China, saying its serves as a new engine for economic growth while enhancing the country's soft power and international image, demonstrating the spirit of fighting and unity of the Chinese nation to the international community.

Luo Yutong, diving Olympic champion, said that sportsmanship is not just about becoming "faster, higher, and stronger" on the field, but also about continuously improving oneself and striving for excellence. Luo expressed hopes of carrying on the sports dreams in different ways after retirement.

During the thematic dialogue session about how the sports industry and technology promote mutual development, participants agreed that future technological advancements hold vast prospects in the sports field, with new materials, technologies, and products combining with sports to propel the continuous development of the sports industry.

In the thematic dialogue session on "New Trends in Communication: How to Tell the Story of Chinese Sports Well," experts emphasized that through sports communication, cities can enhance their image and charm. They suggested promoting and fostering region-specific intellectual property to showcase the uniqueness of cities. Additionally, they recommended inviting internationally influential athletes to expand the influence of cities hosting sports events and activities.