Interest in winter sports is increasing rapidly in China, which hosts the 2022 Winter Olympics. A report by China's General Administration of Sports showed that interest in winter sports has increased dramatically in the country after Beijing won the right to host the Winter Olympics in 2015. According to the report, as of the end of October 2021, the number of people participating in winter sports events in the country reached 346 million. The report revealed that the participation rate in winter sports in China reached 24,56 percent.
The Chinese government has announced its target for more than 2022 million people in the country to participate in winter sports by 300. This target was reached earlier than anticipated. With the Olympics, interest in winter sports and winter tourism increased. The combined scale of winter sports, related equipment and winter tourism in China is expected to reach 2025 trillion yuan ($ 1 billion) by 157.
With the effect of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, the increase in the interest of the Chinese in winter sports was also reflected in the figures. According to the “Winter Tourism Report” announced by Qunar.com, one of the platforms providing travel services in China, there was an explosion of demand for the regions where ski resorts are located during the three-day New Year holiday. Ticket sales to ski resorts increased by 2019 percent compared to 70. The data released by Qunar.com also revealed that 60 percent of skiers went to ski more than once in the same winter season.
20 billion dollars of ski equipment sales are targeted
In a document released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China, it was pointed out that China's winter sports equipment industry is expected to sell over 20 billion yuan ($3 billion) this year.
On the other hand, Li Sen, Head of the General Planning Department of the Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee, said that the Beijing Winter Olympics' impact on winter sports and related industries in China will not be short-term, but long-term. Li stated that the policies encouraging the development of winter sports in China will not be limited to the Olympics, and that the relevant policies will be further strengthened after the Games.
According to the data, the number of standard ice rinks built in China increased by 2015 percent compared to 317, reaching 654. The number of ski facilities in the country increased by 41 percent to 803 in the same period. Pointing out that the number of existing winter sports facilities is not enough, considering China's large population and the huge potential it brings, the Chinese official said that facility construction and related improvement works will continue after the Beijing Winter Olympics.
While more than 2 winter sports-related schools are currently opening in China, this number is planned to rise to over 2025 by 5.
Source: China International Radio
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