The 2024 Yangzhou Jianzhen International Half Marathon and the Grand Canal Marathon Series (Yangzhou Station) kicked off on the morning of March 31, igniting the city’s sports economy with the fervor of marathon events. As part of the event, the “Marathon and Sports Economy” Yangzhou Sports Industry Cooperation and Development Talkfest was held in the afternoon, bringing together experts, scholars, entrepreneurs, media representatives, and runners to explore new paths for the sports industry development.
Zhang Changjin, the Minister of the Publicity Department of Yangzhou Municipal Committee, highlighted the potential of the sports industry as a sunrise and green industry that aligns with the city’s economic and social development direction. In 2023, Yangzhou athletes achieved historic breakthroughs in competitive sports and successfully hosted 17 major national events, boosting the economic impact of sports events.
Wang Zhiguang, the First-level Inspector of the Jiangsu Provincial Sports Bureau, emphasized the importance of leveraging the sports economy as a new productive force to expand the comprehensive effect of sports events and unleash consumption potential. The talkfest provided a platform for exchanging ideas and building consensus on promoting the development of the sports event economy.
In addition to the talkfest, the “Fun Watch Yangtze River Marathon Trip” allowed representatives from the sports industry, social media influencers, and sports enthusiasts to explore Yangzhou’s thriving sports industry bases. The event showcased the city’s strong foundation and development in the sports industry, contributing to the high-quality development of the sports industry in Jiangsu province.