Olympic Qualification Series · Shanghai
May 16-19 Shanghai Huangpu Riverside
With less than a month to go until the start of the 2024 Olympic Qualification Series in Shanghai, the activities of the City Sports Festival are already in full swing: on April 23, an Olympic Qualification Series Shanghai Promotion Vehicle departed from Shanghai Jiangwan Stadium to start a road trip across Shanghai, Suzhou and Guangzhou. The two eye-catching BMX bikes on the roof not only attracted curious eyes along the way, but also clearly pointed out the purpose of the trip: if you want to know BMX, the Olympic Qualifying Series Shanghai is waiting for you!
It is reported that this special road trip will not only review the relationship between BMX and Shanghai, introduce its influence in China, but also participate in related activities and competitions, and learn from BMX enthusiasts on the spot. At the same time, the entire journey will be recorded and made into a documentary with video to let more people know about this fun sport.
Part 01 .
Back to "Where Dreams Begin"
Try a backflip and tailwhip on a BMX bike...... Have you ever known about BMX Freestyle, which originated in California, USA, and after nearly half a century of development, it is gradually becoming popular and popular.
As one of the highlights of the warm-up phase of the festival, the BMX Roadtrip programme and its documentary will comprehensively sort out the process of the sport's connection with Shanghai and even China, and take fans back to the "place where the dream began". During the trip, Li Haoran, China's BMX Street Champion, and Li Li, Secretary General of the Shanghai Yangpu District Cycling Association, will visit different "BMX experts" such as riders, tuners and young learners, and ask them to share their stories with BMX.
BMX has a deep connection with Shanghai
For example, Jiangwan Stadium, which is the starting point of the journey, is the place where the first generation of drivers in Shencheng studied and practiced 20 years ago. Here, Shen Jian, a professional athlete who has won the Chinese BMX Freestyle Championship for 8 times, will start his youth memories with Shanghai singer and host Juliet, Li Haoran and Li Li - back then, BMX was a novel existence for most people, how did young people "self-taught" by watching the video of the competition? Why did Shen Jian insist on going into battle with injuries when he first appeared in an international competition? After witnessing the development of BMX in China for more than 20 years, has the dream of the past come true?
Eight-time Chinese BMX freestyle champion Shen Jian demonstrates his BMX skills at Jiangwan Stadium
In Suzhou, the second stop of the journey, Li Haoran and Li Li will visit Wu Xu, a master of modified cars in the BMX industry, to popularize the past and present of BMX sports for the audience, answer how novices need to prepare for this sport, and reveal the new materials and technologies of today's BMX cars.
A new generation of BMX enthusiasts will be the protagonists of the documentary in Guangzhou, the third stop of the trip. On May 4, at the opening event of the newly completed atmospheric park in the Liuhua Center in Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, Li Haoran will inspect the performance of the young drivers as a referee. In this extreme sports venue that highlights the traditional cultural temperament and has a unique fashion edge, what kind of fireworks will the BMX bring free and full of imagination? The journey has not yet begun, but the excitement of the road is close at hand.
The third leg of the road trip is scheduled to go to Guangzhou
Part 02 .
It's a sport and a way of life
In 2008, BMX was unveiled as an official sport in Beijing, in June 2017 the IOC entered Tokyo 2020 with the BMX freestyle event, and now the Olympic Qualification Series Shanghai BMX Freestyle is ready on the banks of the Huangpu River, waiting for the world's best athletes to take on the challenge.
Li Haoran and Li Li, who started this road journey, are not only partners at work, but also lovers in life. Witnessing the development of BMX over the past 20 years, they were most impressed by the fact that not many people were trying the sport in the first place, and there were very few training venues. In contrast, more and more families are now consciously participating in these sports and supporting their children to learn BMX: "The first generation of athletes walked the path of solitude, but now we have more and more venues and the system of training drivers is gradually being completed. What's more, we finally waited to see BMX bikes on our doorstep!"
Li Li said that BMX enthusiasts have a strong cohesion, and over the years, they have often used road trips and video recordings to promote sports, so that more people can understand the lifestyle of constantly challenging and breaking through themselves contained in this sport. But to be able to promote BMX in this ongoing, everyday way in the run-up to the Olympic Qualification Series in Shanghai is exciting for riders and enthusiasts alike. "We want to use wonderful pictures to show everyone that this is a sport that can be played together, and it is also a sport that competes with oneself and breaks through oneself. ”
It is reported that this road trip will end in May after the end of the Guangzhou station, and finally return to the scene of the Olympic Qualifying Series Shanghai City Sports Festival, and continue to share the touching and laughter gained along the way with the audience. Spectators will not only be able to witness the performances of top athletes from around the world, but will also have more opportunities to experience the fun of BMX racing live.