Dalian on course to ride cool wave of sailing boom

Sailing events

With its natural maritime advantages, Dalian has hosted numerous sailing events, including national championships, the national games and various other championships in recent years.

In July last year, two racing categories in the 2023 National Sailing Championships and a round of the 2023 National University Sailing Championships were held in Dalian.

Organized by the CYA and the Dalian Sports Bureau, the events saw 103 athletes from 11 cities across the country participating.

In July this year, the first Navy Cup International Sailing Regatta, hosted by the Chinese navy, was held in Dalian.

During the four-day event, 16 sailing teams from naval academies representing China and eight other nations, including Brazil, Chile, Italy and Russia competed against each other.

The regatta's objective was to establish a platform for naval exchanges that encompass training, competition, interaction and exhibitions. In addition to the competition, various activities were arranged to facilitate exchanges between the naval academies.

"By organizing a series of high-profile and influential events, Dalian can fully demonstrate its unique mountain-sea advantageous resources and urban cultural charm," said Ni Haoran, deputy director of the competitive sports department of the Dalian Sports Bureau.

"By promoting Dalian through competitions, we aim to create new sports consumption scenarios, boost enthusiasm for fitness, attract domestic and foreign tourists, and promote the deep integration of sports with business, culture, and tourism," he said.

According to Ni, over 30 aquatic sports events are scheduled for this year. The bureau plans to further develop sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, rowing, and fishing projects that are compatible with the city's natural environment.

"We will continue to host more high-level sailing events to attract more sailing enthusiasts and tourists from home and abroad," Ni added.

The 2024 Dalian Cup Sailing Invitational is scheduled to take place in Dalian from September 13 to 17, the CYA said.

Wang Jiaxin, deputy secretary-general of the CYA, said the event is expected to attract sailing enthusiasts from various regions, and will allow residents to better experience the city's sailing sports.

Dalian is considered an early adopter of sailing sports in China and has hosted several influential sailing events in the past, Wang said. Many sailing enthusiasts are eager to return to Dalian to participate in national-level events.

"Dalian's sea area boasts excellent wind conditions, unique 'city-sea' event settings and landscapes, making it an ideal location for sailing and maritime sports," said Wang.

"We also hope to further cooperate with local governments and sports departments to jointly promote the development of sailing sports for youth, and sports leisure," he added.