On virtual screens, winding mountain roads rise and fall as cyclists pedal hard, racing across digital tracks. On simulation platforms, vast snow-covered slopes stretch into the distance as athletes glide with ease, showcasing the grace of winter sports. At Hefei Shaoquan Sports Center, scenes where digital technology and real-world sports blend seamlessly have drawn widespread attention.

From August 28 to 30, the 2026 China Virtual Sports Open Final, the first national-level comprehensive virtual sports event of its kind in China, was held in Hefei. Following nationwide online qualifying rounds, the finalists emerged from more than 8,000 participants and competed fiercely in events including virtual cycling, virtual racing and virtual golf.

What Is Virtual Sports?

Virtual sports is a new form of sport that relies on intelligent simulation equipment and Internet technologies to conduct training and competitions in digital environments. It remains rooted in traditional sports disciplines and is fundamentally different from esports, which is presented primarily in the form of video games.

On the field of competition, the changes brought by digital technology are clearly visible. Virtual cyclists’ actual power output and pedaling cadence are mapped onto digital tracks in real time. Virtual racers search for the optimal braking points in simulated cockpits. After a virtual golfer takes a swing, data such as ball speed, launch angle and trajectory are immediately displayed on the screen.

While the form of competition is changing, the essence of sport remains unchanged. Physical fitness, skills, judgment and accumulated training continue to determine athletic performance. Olympic diving champion Wang Zongyuan said, “Whether in traditional sports or virtual sports, the pressure and focus athletes face when they step onto the field of competition, as well as their pursuit of peak performance, reflect a shared sporting spirit.”

With the approval of the General Administration of Sport of China, the China Virtual Sports Open will be held annually starting in 2026. Following a selection process, Hefei was chosen to host the inaugural national final.

Why Hefei?

Technological innovation is a defining feature of Hefei and one of the city’s core competitive advantages. By the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Hefei’s R&D intensity reached 4.11%, placing it 12th among the world’s “science cities.” Technologies involved in virtual sports, including intelligent sensing, sports data analysis, simulation and digital interaction, are highly compatible with Hefei’s strengths in technological innovation and its industrial foundation. Hosting the China Virtual Sports Open in Hefei represents a two-way convergence between innovation in sports and innovation in the city.

Hefei is also one of China’s pilot cities for promoting sports consumption and the sports event economy, and has actively explored sports events that combine online and offline activities. During the final, the China Virtual Sports City Carnival was held concurrently, offering the public opportunities to experience virtual sports, participate in interactive challenges and explore technological achievements. The convergence of various sports and technological resources has further enriched Hefei’s digital sports, smart sports and sports consumption sectors.

As an official from the Hefei Municipal Sports Bureau put it, the hosting of a national-level event in a city known for scientific and technological innovation not only provides real-world sports scenarios for new technologies and equipment, but also leverages the event’s reach to connect urban consumption, public fitness and industrial resources, creating a new platform for the integrated development of sports and technology.

From Hefei, the China Virtual Sports Open is enriching the supply of activities for public fitness, accumulating experience for the sound development of new forms of sports such as virtual sports, and creating new space for the high-quality development of sports in the digital era.

Source: Anhui Daily

Translated by Shao Hanzhe, intern