Sports Ningbo: Events Launched to Greet Upcoming Asian Games
On March 5, the 200-Day Countdown celebrating activity themed “Embracing the Mountains and Seas to Paint for the Asian Games” was officially launched at the Asian Games Sailing Center in Xiangshan, Ningbo. (Photo by Asian Games Preparation Office in Xiangshan)
Ningbo, one of the co-host cities of the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022, is to undertake two major events: sailing and beach volleyball. Recently, this coastal city has seen a high number of sports events in celebration of the upcoming Asian Games.
Professional teams and athletes are preparing for the Asian Games: the Chinese women's volleyball team is practicing at the Beilun training base, the National Bridge Team have completed the second phase of training in Ningbo and Gold medalists such as Yang Qian, Wang Shun, Shi Zhiyong, and Yan Zheng are also on the training list. Mass fitness events are also gaining traction. The 2023 Ningbo New Year Run – with sports themed activities centered on “Welcoming the Asian Games and Celebrating the Chinese New Year” – is part of a wide range of events, such as the Ningbo 2023 “China Sports Lottery Cup” Mountaineering Activity (in celebration of International Women’s Day), the Xiangshan (Ningbo) “Happy Run” (200-Day Countdown to the 19th Asian Games), the first Ningbo Campus Go Tournament, the 7th Ningbo Children’s Sports Games, the 38th Ningbo Football Association Cup and the CFA Futsal Super League in Cixi City.
This year witnesses dozens of sports events in Ningbo, effectively strengthening the image of “Sports Ningbo”, and creating a strong sporting atmosphere for the world-class multisport event.
It was proposed during the Ningbo Conference of Municipal Directors of Sports that Ningbo should strive to construct a world-renowned city of sports, events, and champions, while encouraging sports for all, fitness for all, and promoting the in-depth integration and innovative development of sports and industries.
In the year 2023, Ningbo — a modern coastal metropolis and international coastal sports center — will actively introduce international sports events while co-hosting Asian Games at a high level, according to sources from Ningbo sports administrations. World-class events such as volleyball’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (OQTs) for Paris 2024, the Asia-Pacific Youth Bridge Championship, and Asian Sailing Championships are to commence in Ningbo.
Endowed with rich mountain and sea resources, Ningbo is to hold a series of running events, such as the “Peach Blossom Marathon across Fenghua Strait”, “Ninghai Cross-Country Mountain Race”, “Yuyao 100-Kilometer Cross-Country Race” and the “Ningbo Marathon”.
Ningbo will further engage in sports exchanges and cooperations with Central-Eastern European Countries (CEEC), international sister cities, etc. The upcoming China-Europe Regatta in Ningbo has been listed in the 2023 international events across China by the General Administration of Sport of China and recognized as one of the key events for people-to-people communication and exchange.
Ningbo is striving for a dynamic city of “sports for all, fitness for all”, by enhancing the top-tier design of fitness businesses, accelerating the construction of entry-level sports venues and facilities, and organizing mass fitness events.
Municipal multisport events such as the 19th Ningbo Sports Games and the 2nd Ningbo Games for All will be staged this year, with the former launching 28 youth sports competitions to select and qualify talented athletes, and the latter setting up 62 mass sports events to create a favorable atmosphere for mass fitness. These two events are expected to facilitate the building of the “Sports Ningbo” city image.
By continuously optimizing the industrial environment, promoting sports consumption, and strengthening industrial platforms, Ningbo’s sports industry will advance in an integrated and innovative manner. The 1,200 kilometers of the “Zhejiang Trail” will be completed and its supporting facilities (including digital facilities such as QR codes along the trail and an online service app) improved, promoting outdoor sports like “Climbing Ten Peaks” and group camping.