Yabuli Trade and Investment Fair for Winter Outdoor Sports and Leisure Industries with the theme of: Growing beyond 24th Universiade concluded on March 29, 2009 at the Yabuli International Convention & Exhibition Centre Hotel, Hei Longjiang Province, P.R.China.

 

Under the support of the China Sporting Goods Federation, this event was hosted by the Harbin People’s Government, and jointly organized by the Education Forum for Asia, the Hei Longjiang Branch of the Alliance of China Conference Hotels, the Hei Longjiang Branch of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, the People’s Government of Shang Zhi City, and the People’s Government of Bin County and Yabuli International Convention & Exhibition Centre Hotel.

 

Starting on March 28, this event consisted of an international forum, a tradeshow of winter outdoor sporting goods as well as a section of face-to-face business discussions and meetings on trade and investment.

 

By bringing together more than 300 participants including officials of governments at both national and local levels, experts and scholars of sport industries, world famous manufacturers and retailers of sporting goods, senior sporting business executives, members of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, representatives from venture capital firms and foundations as well as media representatives. This event represents the important ambitions of Hei Longjiang Province in its efforts to forge and grow its snow and ice industry after the 24th Universiade.

 

Mr. Sun Yao, Vice Governor of Hei Longjiang Province, opened the event. Mr.Sun Xiaohua, Vice Chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, Mr. Chris Lillieroos, Chairman of the Sports and Business Alliance of the USA, and Mr. Yao Wang, Senior Director of the Boao Asia Forum and Secretary General of the Education Forum for Asia, addressed the opening plenary. By his Congratulatory Message, Mr. Zhang Faqiang, Advisor to the All China Sports Federation and Vice Chairman of the Chinese Olympic Committee, expressed his concern and care for this event.

 

Centering on the theme of Growing Beyond the 24th Universiade, Mr. Lin Xianpeng, Head of Research Centre for Sport Industry of Beijing Sport University, and Mr. Ji Ning, Director of the Experts Committee of the Beijing Research Society for Olympic Economy elaborated on the growth opportunities, potential and how the local governments at all levels can grow and support the winter snow and ice industry from their perspectives.

 

After the roundtable meeting, An Action Proposal on the Development of Winter Outdoor Sports and Leisure Industries in Hei Longjiang Province was produced and submitted to the local government.  

Located 195 kilometers to the east of Harbin, the capital of Hei Longjiang province of Northeast China, Yabuli is China’s biggest winter sports venue; featuring the most advanced equipment and facilities as well as superior conditions not found anywhere else. Sitting at an elevation of 1374 meters, it has an average annual temperature between 2 and 10 degrees Celsius. Winter sees 3 to 50 centimeters of high quality snow at ground level, and depths of around 1 meter up in the mountains. Snow covers the ground 170 days a year, and the skiing season can last up to 6 months.