Integrated "sports plus tourism" brings new vitality to Yinzhou

The above photo was taken when a sailing event was held on the Dongqian Lake.

On June 8, the ILCA Asian (Open) Sailing Championship 2023 will be held in Yinzhou, Ningbo. At that time, 123 athletes from 7 countries and regions will participate in the event. They will gather by the beautiful Dongqian Lake to enjoy the infinite charm of the lake. 

This is the second international event held on the Dongqian Lake over the past one month. On May 20, the First China-CEEC International Yachting event came a to successful conclusion on the Dongqian Lake, with 22 teams and more than 200 professionals from all over the world participating. 

Two international sports events have filled the "competitive" sports atmosphere in Yinzhou and ignited the tourism economy in the Dongqian Lake area. 

1. Why are international sports events frequently held in Yinzhou?

The answer lies not only in the charm of the competitions, but also in the popularity and visitors brought by the competitions. 

As one of the most influential sailing events in Asia, the ILCA Asian (Open) Sailing Championship 2023 is the first international Class A sailing event held in China after the 3-year prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic. Among them, ILCA6 and ILCA7 are at the Olympic competition level, while ILCA4 is at the Asian Games competition level. 

Similarly, the China-CEEC International Yachting event is an international event independently founded by Ningbo with its own IP. It is a key event for folk diplomacy and cultural exchanges supported by the General Administration of Sport of China in 2023, and also an important event for cultural exchanges during the China-CEEC Expo. 

Two sailing events, regardless of the level of the event or the level of athletes, are all of the first class. For example, at the China-CEEC International Yachting event, there are many champions of the Shandong Port Cup Sailing Rallying and the Round Hainan Regatta. 

Such high-level competitions are held in succession on the Dongqian Lake, which naturally attracted the attention of domestic and international athletes, media at all levels and sports fans, bringing numerous visitors, and providing the best platform for urban sports IP output. 

2. The Asian Sailing Championship is not only a sport for athletes, but also a new track for economic development. 

This year is the Year of the Asian Games. As one of the first batch of "Olympic Champion Cities" in China, Ningbo is actively building the city brand of "Sports Ningbo". By introducing large-scale comprehensive events and characteristic brand events, Ningbo aims to develop a city of events, a city of vitality, and a city of sports. 

Yinzhou is the urban core area and national sports industry demonstration base of Ningbo. In terms of building the city brand of "Sports Ningbo", Ningbo is duty bound to make great efforts and take the lead in exploring the practical path of new industrial models by integrating sports and tourism. 

From the selection of venue for the Asian Sailing Championship, we can see the determination of Yinzhou to promote the integration of "sports and tourism". 

The Dongqian Lake is a provincial-level scenic spot. It is now the largest freshwater lake in the Zhejiang Province, with an area three times that of the West Lake in Hangzhou. It boasts beautiful natural sceneries and is surrounded by landmarks such as the Ningbo International Convention Center, the Hanling Ancient Street, the Taogong Island, the Southern Song Dynasty Stone Carving Park and so on, and is praised by Mr. Guo Moruo that it has the charm of the West Lake and the boldness of the Taihu Lake. 

The Dongqian Lake also boasts profound cultural charm of the Ancient Song Dynasty. When Wang Anshi came to govern this place, he immediately took a boat to investigate Yanxia; famous ministers of the Southern Song Dynasty, including Shi Hao and Zheng Qingzhi, once lived in seclusion by the Dongqian Lake; the raging fire of Yue kiln celadon has lasted for thousands of years here...

The choice of holding international sports events by the Dongqian Lake has undoubtedly realized the "win-win" of "enjoying sceneries" and "watching games". 

The Asian Sailing Championship has brought opportunities for publicity and new dynamics of tourism full of sports vitality, which are of great benefit to the development of the Dongqian Lake tourism industry. 

The sideline products of this Asian Sailing Championship are very rich. At the opening ceremony, the organizers prepared a themed sports party titled "Welcome the Asian Games, Dynamic Dongqian Lake". For citizens, they can watch land sailing performances and also experience various sports activities such as hockey, fencing, and golf, etc.. 

In addition, there are also local cultural activities such as Cuju (an ancient game of kicking a ball) and pot holding that used to be favored during the ancient Song Dynasty. Citizens can also buy Asian Games mascots, taste coffee and snacks, and feel the unique charm brought by the integration of tourism and sports for the Dongqian Lake at a close distance. 

3. The rise of "sports plus tourism" in Yinzhou originates from deep cultivation of the sports industry

In Yinzhou, the concept of "sports industry development for the whole society" has become a consensus. 

In 2018, Yinzhou established a district-level sports industry development guidance fund to support multiple projects in the district. According to incomplete statistics, the cumulative financial subsidies provided to relevant enterprises and social organizations have exceeded 25 million yuan. 

At present, Yinzhou boasts 1,565 sports activity related units, ranking the first in the city in terms of quantity. In May 2022, Yinzhou was entitled as a National Sports Industry Demonstration Base. 

Yinzhou is also a city of sports events. The First International Rowing Federation Dragon Boat World Cup, the International Men's Tennis Challenge, the China Tennis Tour, the China International Chess TV Fast Chess Tournament, Spartan Race... In the past 10 years, Yinzhou has held more than 50 national and international events. In recent years, emerging top sports events such as aviation sports, motorcycle sports, and water sports have successively settled in Yinzhou. 

Yinzhou encourages sports enterprises to "go global" and strengthen the "Sweet Potato Economy" innovated by Zhejiang for high growth of market and resources. 

Not long ago, 14 sports related enterprises from Yinzhou participated in the China Sports Expo 2023 held in Xiamen, seeking for orders and showcasing the innovative strength of the sports industry in Yinzhou. 

In terms of deepening "sports plus", Yinzhou has also innovatively launched the "Sports-Business Alliance" model. 

Last year, Yinzhou utilized the sports consumption festival as a carrier to establish the first "Sports-Business Alliance" in Ningbo. Through the interaction of sports and business, it continuously enriched sports scenes, competition challenges, trendy markets and consumption activities, heating the business circle economy, and stimulating sports consumption. 

With the growth of the sports industry, it can be foreseen that more "sports plus" models will emerge in Yinzhou in the future.