Beijing – October 16, 2026 -- More than 200 domestic and international dignitaries attended the opening of the World Winter Sports Expo 2026 (WWSE 2026) in Beijing on October 15, a event aligned with the directives of China's 15th Five-Year Plan for the ice and snow industry.
The Expo is a legacy of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games. Its stated mission is to expand the ice and snow economy, cultivate new productive forces in the sector and deepen the integration of culture, sports and tourism. Organizers structured the program around three directions: upgrading the ice and snow industry, deepening culture-sports-tourism integration, and empowering the outdoor economy through technology. The format includes an opening ceremony, a main conference, parallel sessions and special thematic events.
Yu Zaiqing says Expo helped shift China from major consumer market to industry leader
Yu Zaiqing, Honorary Member of the International Olympic Committee and Vice President of the Chinese Olympic Committee, said the Expo was launched 11 years ago alongside Beijing's successful Winter Games bid. He described it as now one of the world's leading ice and snow industry platforms. He called for deeper international cooperation and for the intelligent, green and international development of the industry.
Liaoning to host 15th National Winter Games in 2028 as Guest Province of Honor
Tong Zhao, Deputy Secretary-General of the Liaoning Provincial Organizing Committee of the 15th National Winter Games, said the province is using its Guest Province of Honor status to present ice and snow resources, industrial achievements and cooperation opportunities. The 2028 Games are expected to make Liaoning the first province in China to have hosted both the National Games and the National Winter Games. She invited international parties to take part.
Yue Li, Acting District Mayor of Shijingshan, said the Beijing host district is building a four-season events matrix and integrating ice and snow with the events economy.
IOC's Christophe Dubi flags climate pressure on snow resources and energy use
Christophe Dubi, Olympic Games Executive Director of the IOC, addressed the ceremony by video. He contrasted Beijing 2022's multi-zone hosting model with Milano Cortina 2026's approach of tailoring the Games to local conditions. His position: the Games should adapt to the host, not the host to the venues. He said climate change confronts the industry with challenges ranging from snow resources to energy consumption, making transformation more urgent, and he endorsed forward-looking planning for venue post-Games reuse.
Beijing Sport University's Hong Ping calls for fifth-generation ski products
Hong Ping, Vice President of Beijing Sport University and former Deputy Director of the Winter Sports Management Center at the General Administration of Sport of China, said new indoor ice and snow formats are rising rapidly and that ice and snow consumption has become an important lever for boosting domestic demand. He said development still falls short in several respects. He urged a people-centered approach built on a coupled "human-machine-environment" system and the development of fifth-generation ski products that are science-based, smart, green, healthy and safe.
Global federations cite rapid Asian growth in winter sports
Alexander Ospelt, President of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), Olle Dahlin, Honorary President of the International Biathlon Union (IBU), and Einars Fogelis, President of the International Luge Federation (FIL), recognized the rapid growth of ice and snow sports in Asia. They shared outcomes of Milano Cortina 2026 and stressed sustainable development.
Asia Data Group Co-President Zhang Li launched the "Report on China's Winter Sports Industry Development (2026)" at the ceremony.