Visitors play curling during the fourth CIIE over the weekend in Shanghai. [Photo by Zhu Xingxin/China Daily]

The upcoming Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games have fueled interest in winter sports, as evidenced by the large number of people browsing related products and queuing up to try the alpine skiing simulators and skate on the artificial ice rink at the fourth China International Import Expo in Shanghai.

"We have noticed that the enthusiasm for winter sports in China has been fueled by the upcoming Olympics, and this is why we have designed our booth to resemble a ski resort in the Alps," said Yang Zhongxiao, Decathlon's ski development director.

A third time exhibitor of the CIIE, French sporting goods retailer Decathlon has brought a skiing simulator and a wide range of winter sports equipment to the expo. Making their global debuts at the fair are the brand's car rooftop tent and a snowboard for children aged 2 to 4.

"We are seeing greater demand for equipment for outdoors activities such as camping, hiking and skiing because people have been stuck at home due to COVID-19 and are eager to get out now," said Yang.

"The new tent can be set up on top of any SUV and even on sedan cars. Setting up the rooftop tent takes only a few seconds," he added. "Our first snowboard for kids is targeted at the family skiing trips as we expect more Chinese families to have a second or third child."

Meanwhile, Italian sportswear manufacturer Fila, which is attending the CIIE for the first time, has launched a new ski suit series that is highly breathable, waterproof, elastic, and anti-frost.

The company's booth has been designed to resemble a museum showcasing replicas of various signature clothes worn by the Italian national team athletes and models at Milan Fashion Week throughout its 110 years of history.

The Bank of China, the official partner of the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games as well as the CIIE, has also set up a 1,200-square-meter exhibition area comprising a virtual reality skiing simulator, an artificial ice rink and experience zones for sports like curling and ice hockey. The area also showcases the bank's financial services, such as its digital currency wallet.

"In less than 100 days, Beijing will become the first city in the world to host both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games, making it the only city in the world to do so. The Bank of China is very honored to be able to contribute to this historic sporting event," said Yu Jiapeng, a staff member from the Bank of China Shanghai Branch.