Xinhua News Agency, Guangzhou, October 24 Title: Competing for the global market and competing for technological content—Guangdong’s “intelligent manufacturing” drives a new wave of sports industry
Xinhua News Agency reporters Wang Haoming and Zhao Ziyu
In less than 20 days, the Guangdong Olympic Sports Center in Tianhe District, Guangzhou City will become the center of attention. On the evening of November 9, the flame of the 15th National Games will be lit here, and a few days after the opening, the track and field events of the 15th National Games will be held here.
The track and field track of Guangdong Olympic Sports is manufactured by the local company Tongxin Sports and has passed the highest level World Athletics Level 1 venue certification, waiting for the fastest runners in the country to compete.
It is understood that World Athletics Level 1 venue certification is the highest level of track and field track. Passing Level 1 certification means that this track meets the most stringent standards of World Athletics in terms of design, materials, construction technology and performance, and has the conditions to host top track and field events such as the Olympic Games, World Athletics Championships, and relay races.
Data shows that there are a total of 22 World Athletics Level 1 certified venues built by Chinese manufacturers around the world. Manufacturers in Guangdong Province contributed 14 of them, accounting for more than 60%.
Competing in the global market requires hard core strength.
Chen Chen, co-president of Tongxin Sports, said that Tongxin Sports’ production base has built a complete intelligent manufacturing ecosystem with “cloud data link” as the core and running through “nano-level raw material control-AI fully automatic synthesis-industrial brain optimization-smart cockpit supervision”.
“The production base deeply integrates automation, digitization and intelligence, and uses data links throughout the entire process from raw materials to finished products, redefining the manufacturing standards for sports venue materials.” Chen Chen said.
Currently, China’s sporting goods manufacturing industry is undergoing profound changes driven by digitalization. The integration of new technologies represented by artificial intelligence, big data, virtual reality, etc. and sports equipment is accelerating. The list of national-level “specialized, special and innovative” small giant companies in the sports field announced in the first half of this year (2024) includes a total of 146 companies, 30 of which are from Guangdong.
Many companies are moving towards the world’s top level.
In September this year, the Billie Jean Gold Cup Tennis Tournament was held in Shenzhen. During the event, the tennis robot “Acemate” that can play against each other made a stunning appearance.
“Acemate” was developed by SwitchBot. This product has a 4K binocular camera that integrates visual perception and control technology and a highly dynamic environment interaction algorithm. It can accurately capture the trajectory, speed, and rotation angle of the incoming ball. The intelligent decision-making brain analyzes the game strategy in real time and forms a personalized return plan. It can predict the path of the ball, move across the field, and return the ball just like a professional human player.
“I am deeply impressed by the robot’s ability to move and return the ball. The previous ball server was fixed in one place, but this robot can fly around the court according to where you hit the ball, just like a real tennis player. It is a revolutionary product for both tennis training and teaching.” said Leighton, head coach of the All England Tennis Academy.
In May this year, “Acemate” immediately attracted global attention after being launched on an overseas crowdfunding platform, reaching a crowdfunding amount of more than 16.5 million yuan and attracting the participation of more than 1,500 supporters from around the world.
The relevant person in charge of Wan Robot stated that the company has been deeply involved in AI embodied intelligence technology for nearly ten years. Through independent research and development, it has mastered three AI embodied core technologies: AI machine vision control technology, robot positioning and environment construction technology, and distributed neural control network technology, and built AI embodied solutions covering environment perception, motion control, and intelligent decision-making.
This robot is the result of ten years of technology accumulation, iteration and innovation.
A solid manufacturing foundation and bold digital transformation support Guangdong’s sports manufacturing industry in its solid climb to the high end of the value chain.
However, in addition to internal training, the transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing industry requires support from application scenarios and industrial ecology.
Shenzhen Guangming District will host the 15th National Games bicycle (freestyle BMX, racing BMX) events, but many people may not know that Guangming is also a veritable city of bicycles.
Xidesheng, a bicycle company rooted in Guangming District, has grown from a foundry to a world-renowned brand of bicycles in 30 years. Today, Xide Sheng Bicycles frequently appears in top international competition venues such as the Tokyo and Paris Olympic Games and the “Tour de France” and “Tour de España”, and participates in industry conferences such as the International Bicycle Exhibition in Paris, France, and the Beijing International Cycling Sports and Equipment Exhibition. In the first half of 2025, Xide Sheng’s product exports to the EU increased by 9.7% year-on-year.
The relevant person in charge of Guangming District in Shenzhen said that relying on the leading role of Xidesheng Enterprises, Guangming District has gathered to form a bicycle industry echelon covering cutting-edge technology research on bicycle materials, technological innovation of core components, vehicle manufacturing and intelligent applications. In 2024, Shenzhen’s total bicycle and accessories manufacturing output will be 10.588 billion yuan, with Guangming District accounting for more than 60%.
Not only has a whole industry chain ecosystem been formed around bicycle manufacturing, but it is also aimed at creating a full-chain “cycling +” economic ecosystem.
Zhang Yali, deputy director of the Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports Bureau of Shenzhen Guangming District, introduced that Guangming District relied on the construction of leisure cycling trails and systematically sorted out 112 scientific popularization, natural ecology, pastoral experience, cultural and artistic resource points in the district, and customized 10 characteristic boutique routes for different customer groups to deeply explore “cycling + tourism” resources. Relying on the opportunity of the 15th National Games, combined with the implementation of professional cycling venues and diversified cycling events, we will create a core hosting site for “cycling + events” in the Bay Area.
“Guangdong will insist on building a modern sports industry system at a high level, support advantageous sports enterprises to become stronger and bigger, take multiple measures to enhance the development level of sports industry clusters, improve the carrying capacity and service capabilities of the sports industry platform, and promote the new and stronger sports industry.” The relevant person in charge of the Guangdong Provincial Sports Bureau said.
[Editor in charge: Wang Hui]
