"Thanks to the 2008 Olympic Sailing competition successfully held in Qingdao, the city has won wide acclaim from home and abroad. In the post-Olympic era, the local government is committed to vigorously promoting the sailing sector and making Qingdao a sailing city,” said Xia Geng, mayor of Qingdao.

"The Olympic sailing competition is not only a competitive game, but also a kind of sport involving all the people. It is vital in spreading the Olympic spirit in the post-Olympic era,” Xia stressed.

Currently, the city is promoting a mass participation campaign. More than 100 primary and secondary schools are helping to popularize sailing among teenagers by offering related courses and setting up sailing training teams. This kind of sport is appealing to an increasing number of people.

The city has developed relationships with many overseas cities with experts in sailing. The Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center and the Olympic Promotion Council have also been established. Every year, a number of large-scale sailing competitions are held in Qingdao, including International Sailing Week and the Clipper around-the-world yacht race.

Meanwhile, a number of sailing clubs and sailboat manufacturers are enjoying rapid growth.

Xia said, “The city will further strengthen cooperation with the International Sailing Federation and world-renowned sailing organizations and continue to organize international sailing competitions, in a bid to shape Qingdao’s image as a sailing city.”

By Wang Qian (China Daily Shandong Bureau)

Editor: Li Jing