The final of the 2024 Fuzhou International Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament is exciting. [Photo/ WeChat account of Sport Bureau of Fujian Province]

Liancheng county in Longyan, East China's Fujian province, has become China's largest hub for the production of baseball equipment, serving as a key global procurement center. Its range of products includes gloves, bats, and baseballs, with exports primarily to Europe, the US, Japan, and South Korea, reaching a value of 520 million yuan ($73 million) in 2023.

In addition to manufacturing, Fujian established a baseball team this year in a "Fujian-Taiwan joint team" format, competing in the 2024 China Baseball League in Weihai, Shandong province. This joint team signifies Fujian's exploration of cross-Strait sports integration.

Fujian is actively promoting baseball in Fuzhou, Xiamen, Pingtan, and Longyan, with over 70 elementary school teams and 10 university teams. The sport helps foster better understanding between cross-Strait youth.

The baseball industry is just one aspect of Fujian's sports landscape. As part of the "sports+" initiative, the sports industry has become a new economic engine. In 2023, the province hosted over 400 branded events, boosting consumption by nearly 5 billion yuan, with total sports consumption reaching 95.7 billion yuan.

Moreover, Fujian organizes prestigious sporting events like the Xiamen Marathon and the 2024 Fuzhou International Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament. By integrating these events into scenic spots, commercial districts, and urban centers, Fujian has significantly boosted economic growth.

The Xiamen Marathon attracted 30,000 participants, boosting consumption by 1.1 billion yuan, while the Fuzhou International Dragon Boat Invitational drew 15,000 attendees, boosting consumption by 100 million yuan.

Fujian's Department of Culture and Tourism actively promotes the integration of sports and tourism, as seen in the 2024 "Travel with the race" sporting event catalog. This catalog features exciting sporting events, curated tourist routes, and local culinary delights, driving sports tourism consumption and enhancing the economic impact of these events.

Furthermore, in recent years, Fujian has introduced digital sports laboratories and demonstration zones, integrating high-tech elements like 5G, big data, and AI with sports to empower the digital sports industry and enhance nationwide fitness activities. Fujian's rapid digital transformation in the sports sector, with a total scale exceeding 650 billion yuan, positions it among the country's leaders in this field.