Under the blazing sun and rising temperatures, the global sports market is also heating up alongside the summer weather. In the early hours of August 12, Beijing time, the 33rd Summer Olympic Games came to a close at the Stade de France in Paris, France. After 19 days of intense competition, the Chinese sports delegation won a total of 40 gold, 27 silver, and 24 bronze medals, tying with the United States for the most gold medals and achieving the best overseas performance in Olympic history.
In this “sports year,” foreign trade enterprises have soared by riding the wave of the “event economy.” Among them, two companies exhibiting at the Canton Fair—Nantong Ironman Sports Goods Co., Ltd. (referred to as “Nantong Ironman”) and Taishan Sports Industry Group Co., Ltd. (referred to as “Taishan Sports”)—stood out at the Olympic Games, showcasing their strength and contributing significantly to the rise of Chinese sports brands.
As a top global sports event service provider, Taishan Sports has participated in the Olympics for the seventh time. At the Paris Olympics, Taishan Sports provided over 10 types of high-tech, high-safety sports equipment for wrestling, boxing, judo, cycling, taekwondo, gymnastics, and other sports, achieving several “firsts”: smart chips embedded in sports mats for traceable product information and real-time collection of athletes’ movement trajectories, force, frequency, etc.; nano anti-stain and antibacterial coating technology on the surface for antibacterial effects; and gradient energy absorption cushioning structure design in the cushioning layer, showcasing strong intellectual property rights.
Notably, the mats customized by Taishan Sports for judo have undergone comprehensive innovation in material selection, performance, design concepts, safety, and environmental standards. For the first time, they incorporate “smart chips,” setting new benchmarks globally and surpassing international standards with their outstanding performance.
In the women’s 20 km race walk final at the Paris Olympics, Chinese athlete Yang Jiayu, the world record holder, won the gold medal with a time of 1 hour 25 minutes and 54 seconds, securing China’s first gold medal in track and field at these Games. Behind this honor was strong support from Nantong Ironman.
During the preparation phase, from physical training to recovery support, the Nantong Ironman team provided comprehensive and meticulous services, helping Chinese track and field athletes such as Yang Jiayu, Liu Hong, Zhang Jun, Li Yandong, Xu Zhuoyi, Niu Chunge, Zhong Tao, and Wang Zisai achieve excellent results.
“Since the winter training last year, we have actively participated in athletes’ preparation, providing equipment for physical training and recovery, as well as support from physical therapists and recovery specialists, creating a full-process, integrated service model,” said Zhang Haibin, General Manager of the Professional Sports Team Support Department at Nantong Ironman.
Quietly working on the field and showcasing their talents at the Canton Fair, Taishan Sports and Nantong Ironman, as representatives of “China Smart Manufacturing” in the sports industry, continue to innovate and break through, from offline to online, and from traditional to digital, writing the growth story of foreign trade enterprises with relentless efforts.
At the 135th Canton Fair, Taishan Sports presented a complete range of competitive sports equipment products with refined quality, including over 20 types such as carbon fiber vaulting horses, wrestling mats, new martial arts fields, karate mats, taekwondo mats, boxing headgear (gloves), and judo uniforms. These products, featuring advanced technology and hard power, showcased the charm of Chinese brands to the world and were well-received by domestic and international buyers.
Since its participation in the Canton Fair, Nantong Ironman has been consistent and never missed a session. “The Canton Fair connects the endless overseas market opportunities on one end and the booming domestic ‘new blue ocean’ on the other. It has always been the best platform for Nantong Ironman to connect with the world and the best channel for meeting new clients and acquiring new business opportunities,” said a representative from Nantong Ironman.
At the Paris Olympics, China not only shined globally with outstanding sports achievements but also showcased a series of “China Smart Manufacturing” products from Canton Fair exhibitors, standing out with exceptional strength and becoming an international focus. From the precise “ball” craftsmanship of Double Fish Sports, Gree Electric’s technological innovations, Peak’s Chinese “weaving,” to iFlytek’s “sound” sensation in Paris… countless Chinese enterprises, in partnership with the Canton Fair, have made strides together, facing new challenges and exploring new opportunities. Looking to the future, more “Chinese brands” are expected to grow and thrive through “China’s No. 1 Exhibition,” presenting the strength and commitment of Chinese enterprises to the world and benefiting people in various countries with more “Chinese good products.”
