On July 31st, Chinese athletes Quan Hongchan and Chen Yuxi clinched the gold medal in the women's synchronized 10-meter platform event at the Paris 2024 Olympics, drawing cheers from their fellow Guangdong natives. While athletes from across China compete at the Olympics, Guangdong enterprises are seizing the opportunity to showcase their products, with many "Made in China" goods making their debut on the international stage. The Olympic economy is thriving, attracting attention to China's sports consumption while foreign companies also see significant gains in China.
On July 30th, China's paddlers Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha took gold in the table tennis mixed doubles, defeating Ri Jong Sik and Kim Kum Yong of DPR Korea 4-2 in the final . One detail that might have gone unnoticed by many spectators was the presence of a small serving machine on the referee's table, a product of Guangdong's manufacturing prowess.
"This year, we made a breakthrough by providing automated serving tables for the Olympic table tennis events, replacing manual ball tossing with machine precision," said Liang Zhixiong, assistant to the general manager of Double Fish Sports, to a reporter from Yangcheng Evening News. "We also supplied 35,000 ping pong balls for the Paris Olympics, with specifications for roundness, hardness, and elasticity that surpass the International Table Tennis Federation standards, offering better stability and performance." According to Liang, Double Fish's sales increase by over 40% compared to 2023, bolstered by the Olympics and other major sports events like the 15th National Games .
"The Paris Olympics are driving up interest, leading to a peak in sports equipment sales. Our company has seen a significant increase in orders from European countries, particularly from France. Our orders are full for the year, with racket exports to France exceeding 35 million yuan in the first half of the year, a 40% increase year-on-year, expected to surpass 65 million yuan in 2024," said Huang Yuwen, deputy manager of Heyuan Angtai Composite Materials Co., Ltd. The company, which has been producing high-end composite sports equipment like tennis, squash, and badminton rackets for over 20 years, exports over 90% of its products to markets in Europe and North America.
"The impact of the Olympic Games is evident. Our cross-border e-commerce stores have seen a doubling of hits," said Li Xiangyun, who works in sports goods trading in Guangzhou. "Recently, we've been contacted by thousands of overseas buyers each month through our platform, with items like sun hats being in particularly high demand."
This surge in business reflects the vibrant Olympic economy for many foreign trade companies.
As the world's most-watched sporting event, each of the Olympic Games attracts billions of global viewers. Paris 2024 Olympics features 32 major events and 329 minor events, encompassing nearly all sports categories. Notably, this year marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France. As China's leading province in both economic and trade sectors, Guangdong plays a crucial role in the China-France economic and financial cooperation. The Paris 2024 Olympics provide a fresh impetus economic and trade cooperation between Guangdong Province and France.
Source: Yangcheng Evening News
