On October 30, GO Guangdong partnered with the Canton Fair, China's largest trade fair, to host a sports-industry-themed inspection tour in Guangzhou. The tour attracted 25 Canton Fair buyers from 12 countries, including New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Indonesia, and Yemen. The tour provided buyers with insights into Guangdong's dynamic sports industry and allowed them to experience the atmosphere of the upcoming 15th National Games.
Revitalized historic stadium amazed overseas buyers
"Take a run and feel the track!" "Our lighting upgrade delivers better performance at lower cost!" "What's the biggest challenge in upgrading this venue's audio system?"... The delegation visited the Guangdong Provincial People's Stadium, which is one of the oldest stadiums in China preserved in its original form and a key venue for the 15th National Games.
To meet the competition standards, the stadium underwent renovations to its tracks, pitch, spectator seating, sound system, and lighting. Representatives from the Chinese suppliers behind the renovation explained the cutting-edge technologies integrated throughout the venue, which immediately impressed the participants.
Afsha and Shahdan Samnani, buyers from New Zealand, praised the venue's renovation. "It's impressive to see the historic stadium refurbished to a like-new condition and ready for major events next month, while preserving its rich history," they said.
Safwan Al Turk, a buyer from Lebanon, actively engaged with suppliers by asking frequent questions, seeking to understand the latest trends in Chinese products. He noted that as his first trip to both China and the Canton Fair, the tour offered a valuable opportunity to interact directly with leading sports companies.
"Growing global health awareness is driving us to lower barriers to healthy living through innovative products. China's achievements in technology and product innovation are impressive, and we look forward to potential collaboration," said Safwan.
Brazilian buyer Flavio Perazzo intended to source fitness equipment, but left with unexpected inspiration after visiting the stadium. He said, "Since most stadiums in Brazil are government-owned, and my rapidly developing hometown João Pessoa lacks the infrastructure for large-scale football events, this visit revealed the the potential for partnering with Chinese companies on public projects, something that would be of great value to my hometown's development."
Cutting-edge tech products capture global spotlight
To explore the latest trends of sports products, the delegation visited Guangzhou Double Fish Sports Group Co., Ltd., a time-honored Chinese manufacturer of table tennis equipment, where they got the chance to experienced the brand's latest products tailored to diverse needs, gained hands-on insight into advanced manufacturing techniques, and learned about the company's development journey through storytelling sessions.
Canadian buyer Jimi Mouradian remarked, "It really opened my eyes!" Having long been aware of table tennis's popularity in China, he said the visit gave him a deeper appreciation to the brand's heritage, and revealed how sports enterprises help drive the success of sporting events through rapid innovation.
Mariam Ismail from Zimbabwe shared that while table tennis is not mainstream in her country, Double Fish helped her see its unique appeal. "The tour offered valuable firsthand experience and real insight into the company and its products," she added.
At Guangzhou Havit Technology, presenters introduced upcoming and popular products such as outdoor walkie-talkie and headphones in fluent English. One buyer from Zimbabwe was so taken with a wireless speaker that he connected his phone, slung it over his shoulder and danced with his friend. Brazilian buyer Flavio Perazzo was struck by the scene. "It's incredibly inspiring. I'm already planning how to promote these innovative products back home," he said.
Having learned that 90 percent of Havit's products are exported to more than 100 countries and regions worldwide, Flavio said that trade ties between China and Brazil have grown increasingly closer in recent years. These exchanges continue to strengthen bilateral relations and offer forward-looking inspiration through China's advanced technological products.
As the tour concluded with a group photo, Justin, a buyer from New Zealand, highlighted the value of such immersive visits. They allow buyers to assess companies up close and hold direct trade talks, laying a solid foundation for cooperation. He expressed hope for more multi-industry exchange programs in the future.
As one of the four provincial international communication platforms, GO Guangdong Platform offers international visitors smart and efficient touring experiences. It integrates resources across the province to create multi-themed visit routes, provides standardized bilingual signage, organizes international exchange activities and guided services, and has developed a user-friendly online database to help visitors immerse themselves in the unique charm of Guangdong.
Reporter丨Zhou Jiyin, Yin Juewen
Editor丨Yin Juewen
Video丨Luo Yuan
Proofreader丨Lai Yuqing