Alisports Group, the comprehensive sports platform provider of e-commerce giant Alibaba, has announced a strategic partnership with the investment firm Dongfang Shiqi and the local government of Tongling in Anhui Province on August 28.

Through this collaboration, the three parties will work together to help Tongling to create a smart sports town and turn it into a national model for the sports industry. The partners have made plans to combine their competitive sports, public fitness, leisure and entertainment businesses into their Xihu Culture and Sports Town project.

Alisports will also introduce major sports events into Tongling. Specifically, the sports company is looking to help the city create its e-sports industry platform through the organization of company-owned World Electronic Sports Games.

Tongling, named National Fitness Model City of 2014, has seen health and fitness as the center of its sports development plan in recent years. As of now, the city has hosted major events including the 2011 Asian Weightlifting Championships, the 2016 National Bodybuilding Championships, the 2017 Baidu Zhuangshi Cup China-USA Basketball Challenge and the 2017 National Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament.

The prefecture-level city is planning to set up a well-established public sports service system. Up to now, it has built 10-minute fitness circles and more than 200-km of public track and greenway, while Its per capita area of public sports space has reached over 1.35 square meters. The city has also invested RMB 1 billion in the construction of Tongling Sports Center, which is now open to the public.

Source: Sina

Proofread by William Logsdon