BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- As spectators packed Beijing's venues in 2008, Guo Li remembers being struck not only by the quality of competition, but also by the enthusiasm of volunteers and first-time fans. Nearly two decades later, she believes that initial excitement has matured into a deeper sporting culture.
"What I saw throughout these years was the Chinese people's passion inspired by high-level events," said Guo, 73, who worked as competition director of rhythmic gymnastics at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
The change Guo described has unfolded alongside China's growing involvement in the Olympic Movement. In 2022, Beijing became the first city in history to stage both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. Since then, China has also hosted the FISU World University Games, the Asian Games and the Asian Winter Games, reinforcing its position as one of the world's most active organizers of major sporting events.
"China has always been firmly practicing, safeguarding, and promoting the Olympic spirit," Chinese President Xi Jinping said while meeting with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry and IOC Honorary President for Life Thomas Bach last November in Guangzhou, adding that in recent years, China and the IOC have supported each other in advancing sports development and got many big and great things done.
Last month, the IOC announced that Shanghai will host one stop of the 2028 Olympic Q-Series, bringing the urban sports festival back to the city after its successful debut there in 2024.
"China has always been an incredibly strong partner," Coventry said. "There are so many extraordinary things that the Olympic Movement is learning consistently from China."
As China continues to host major international competitions, the influence of those events extends beyond stadiums, helping to bring sport into the daily lives of millions.
International Olympic Day, which falls on Tuesday this year, brings together enthusiasts worldwide to celebrate the joy of sport.
This weekend, China will mark the 40th edition of its Olympic Day celebrations, with activities planned in more than 10 cities and counties. Families, students and amateur athletes are expected to participate in events ranging from fun runs to fitness classes.
"Sports is closely related to health, and we can feel the Olympic spirit in motion," said table tennis icon Ma Long, China's most decorated Olympian. "I hope more people can find at least one sport as a lifelong hobby to practice on a regular basis."
Official surveys suggest that the trend is already underway. By the end of 2025, China's per capita sports venue area had reached 3.11 square meters, while 38.52 percent of residents aged seven and above reported exercising regularly, an increase of 1.3 percentage points from 2020.
"The joy of sport belongs to everyone," said Zou Xinxian, a professor at Beijing Sport University. "The Chinese people's enthusiasm for year-round sport and exercise demonstrates the Olympic Movement's wide influence."
As the FIFA World Cup unfolds in North America this summer, football fans in east China's Jiangsu Province have been flocking to a grassroots tournament known as the Su Super League, a city-based amateur competition that has unexpectedly become a local phenomenon.
According to organizers, the league attracted 2.43 million spectators across 85 matches during its inaugural season in 2025, while broadcasts generated billions of cumulative online views on Chinese digital platforms.
"On holidays and weekends, we used to visit scenic spots or commercial districts. But now, we feel excited to cheer our local team on," said football fan Wang Lin.
Winter sports offer another example of how Olympic legacies can evolve.
One of the goals associated with the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics was to encourage broader public participation in ice and snow activities. Officials say the objective was achieved before the Games even opened and has continued to expand in the years since.
From established destinations such as Yabuli Ski Resort in Heilongjiang Province to newer indoor facilities in southern China, opportunities to skate and ski have become increasingly accessible to people with little previous exposure to winter sports.
In 2025, the total scale of China's ice-and-snow economy exceeded one trillion yuan (148 billion U.S. dollars) for the first time, according to China's General Administration of Sport.
At the same time, symbols of Beijing 2022 continue to resonate. Bing Dwen Dwen, the panda mascot that won fans around the world during the Winter Olympics, remains part of China's sporting culture through annual zodiac-themed editions that blend Olympic memories with traditional Chinese imagery.
Nearly two decades after Beijing first welcomed the Olympic Games, Guo sees their legacy not only in grand stadiums, but also in neighborhood fitness classes, amateur football crowds and children lacing up skates for the first time.
"The excitement never disappeared," she said. "It simply became part of everyday life." ■
