Capital sport festival gets pulses racing

The 15th Beijing Olympic City Sports Culture Festival opened with a vibrant event on Thursday night in the South Square of the National Stadium, which is also known as the Bird's Nest.

The event included demonstrations and trials of 3x3 basketball, street dance, parkour, roller skating, off-road rollerblading, esport cycling, and climbing.

Additionally, a pop-up market sold items as part of the 5th "8.8" Beijing Sports Shopping Carnival. Exclusive commemorative products authorized by the International Olympic Committee for the Paris 2024 were also available for purchase during the event.

Opening night coincided with National Fitness Day, which falls on Aug 8 each year, and celebrated with an event that brought together 400 cycling enthusiasts.

Participants cycled along a 5-kilometer route passing by landmarks, such as the National Stadium, the National Aquatics Center, the National Indoor Stadium, Olympic Tower, the China Science and Technology Museum and the Museum of the Communist Party of China, as part of an effort to promote public fitness initiatives.

Starting on Aug 16, a series of sports and cultural activities will take place in Beijing's Changping district. They will include a youth triathlon, a dual Olympics-themed camp, and the Run Girls women's marathon, adding to the diverse array of events under the festival's umbrella.