From September 9 to 13, the 2026 China International Trade in Services Fair will be held at Shougang Park in Shijingshan, Beijing. As one of the special exhibition areas, Sports Service focuses on presenting complete service solutions such as smart stadium operation and virtual sports interaction, so that people can truly feel the changes brought to sports by digital technology, hidden in every moment of running and every swing.
Smarter sports scenarios
At the trade fair, smart stadiums were “moved” to the development zone.
Next to the indoor tennis court, sports enthusiasts waiting to show up are eager to try it out. How is this venue different? According to Gao Kai, product operation manager of Orange Lion Sports, it is a “tennis smart body” based on AI algorithms.
Cameras in the field capture images of every round in real time, and the system can track players' movements, tennis trajectories, hitting points, and hitting speed. Whether it's singles, doubles, training or competition, this “smart body” can rely on multi-dimensional sports data to provide professional analysis and generate highlight videos.
“Winning the ball” requires “speaking with data.” When an amateur player has completed a tennis training or game, they can also get a copy of statistics like professional players. The performance of all aspects such as forehand and backhand is clear at a glance, and they have a more intuitive understanding of their own technical characteristics.
Gao Kai explained that this AI intelligent sports solution, which is mainly used in the tennis scene, is reshaping the way players train, compete, and improve their skills. Currently, it is being used in Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenyang, Yinchuan, etc., and is gradually being promoted to countries and regions such as Canada and Australia.
Also actively expanding overseas markets is Dysler Technology Group Co., Ltd., which focuses on the construction and operation of swimming pool stadiums. According to Yang Lijing, vice president of the company, they reached a preliminary cooperation agreement with Kazakh companies during the trade fair.
Water quality is one of the important indicators of swimming pool venue operation. The Dysle Intelligent Monitoring and Control Water Quality Management System automatically controls the dissolution and application of disinfectants by collecting key indicators in real time, carrying out water quality monitoring and intelligent analysis.
“Accurate disinfectant dosing relies on AI computing power to ensure safety, reduce costs, and improve efficiency.” Yang Lijing said, “This equipment not only serves professional swimming events, but also serves the public in scenes such as hotels, water parks, and water rehabilitation, putting health first.”
AI assistance, more accurate judgment
In the “China Hawkeye” exhibition area, computer equipment simulations showed soccer VAR (video assistant referee) simulation operation rooms, as well as administration scenes involving volleyball, baseball, softball, etc.
In 2023, FIFA announced the list of technical service providers. “China Hawkeye” from Beijing Regent Technology Co., Ltd. became the official video assistant referee and offside technical service provider, and obtained the qualification to provide services for FIFA events and all professional soccer matches around the world.
According to information, the company passed the joint certification of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Department of Science and Education of the State Administration of Sports in 2014, and was awarded the title of “China Hawkeye” to create an AI system for tracking, identifying, and analyzing multiple sports targets.
Wu Guoyu, project manager of Regent Technology General Department, explained that human referees are limited by visual range and response speed, making it difficult to capture all details in high-speed competitive projects, and the Hawkeye system can establish an objective, reproducible, and verifiable auxiliary judgment basis for sporting events.
Taking soccer offside judgment as an example, the system uses deep learning AI technology and image processing algorithms to analyze and process images taken by the camera. After identifying the offside moment, an offside line is accurately generated in the broadcast signal to provide a reference for the referee's judgment.
In “small ball” projects such as table tennis, the replay review system can support the judgment of key challenge types such as serve cleaning the net, throw height, and angle. The application of technologies such as multi-camera synchronization, high frame rate capture, and AI 3D analysis supports tournament administration, data training, and professional broadcasting, and is gradually popularizing mass sports and youth events while serving high-level events.
“There are relatively few professional referees in many amateur games. Many use a trust system. Both players in and outside the game world rely on negotiations between players, leading to frequent disputes and affecting the smoothness of the game. This provides space for the lightweight and inclusive development of the Hawkeye system.” Wu Guoyu said.
Virtual sports are also “addictive”
In the exhibition area, naked eye 3D racing simulators and flight simulators are popular projects that attract visitors to line up. The three “cockpit” displays match the dynamic adjustment of the seat, bringing an immersive experience.
Exhibitor Xu Mingqian explained that Zongshen Vision brought the first 3D simulator to this trade fair. Through the integration of AI human eye tracking algorithms and optical systems, it enhances the three-dimensional and immersive feeling of the image.
Rowing and kayaking require water, and skiing relies on snow resorts... The appeal of virtual sports is that some sports restricted by venue, season, weather, equipment, etc. can approach the public in a new way. Using VR and other devices, experiencers can participate in sports through physical interaction.
For newbies, virtual scenes can lower the entry threshold for sports and enhance participation through fun interactions; veteran enthusiasts can use virtual devices for daily training. Virtual sports bring sports scenes into shopping malls, communities, and families, and expand the new connotation of the “15 minute fitness circle”.
Mei Zijia, chairman of Beijing Dongwang World Technology Co., Ltd., said that in recent years, many fragmented venues have been turned into virtual sports or digital sports spaces. Everyday is a virtual sports national fitness scene. When organizing virtual sports events, it can be directly used as a venue to host games and revitalize the city's “golden corner and silver edge.”
The “2025 China Sports Services Trade Development Report” was released during this trade fair. Data show that in 2025, China's total import and export volume of major sports services trade reached 74.875 billion yuan, an increase of 5.533 billion yuan over the previous year, and an increase of 7.98% over the previous year.
“The development of China's sports services trade has reached a new level. The trade structure has improved markedly, the potential of the competition economy has been shown, and the formation of a diverse pattern has accelerated.” Yang Xuedong, director of the Sports Economics Department of the State Administration of Sports, said that the General Administration of Sports will accelerate the application of new technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence in the field of sports, cultivate new business formats such as virtual sports and smart operation, and “give wings of technology to the development of the sports industry.”