The 2025 Academic Forum on Olympic Development, hosted by the Chinese Olympic Academy, was held at Beijing Sport University (BSU) on Dec 6.

With the theme of Carrying Forward the Olympic Spirit, Co-shaping a Better Future for Sport, the forum aimed to serve as a high-level platform for academic dialogue on Olympic Studies.

The event brought together over 600 participants, including leading academics, Olympic champions and youth representatives from around the world to exchange insights on topics such as Olympic values, sports development, technological innovation in sport and the Olympic legacy.

In his opening remarks, Fan Zhanbei, Party secretary of the BSU, reflected on the university's long-standing ties with the Olympic Movement — noting that the institution had consistently advanced alongside the development of the Olympic cause.

Approved by the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC) as China's national Olympic academy, the Chinese Olympic Academy has been developed at BSU since June 2024.

The academy is dedicated to promoting Olympic culture, advancing Olympic education, and fostering Olympic values — an approach that’s received high recognition from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Fan added that the university would continue to deepen Olympic education, expand international cooperation and strengthen the integration of research and practice — contributing BSU's expertise to the continued development of the Olympic Movement.

In a ceremony attended by dignitaries, Li Lingwei — IOC executive board member, vice president of the Chinese Olympic Committee and president of the China Olympic Academy — signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Charilaos Tsolakis, dean of the International Olympic Academy (IOA).

The agreement marks a new phase of collaboration between the two institutions in areas such as Olympic academic research and talent development.

Tian Maijiu, Director of the Sports Poetry Working Committee of the Chinese Poetry Society, former member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), former Vice Director of the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress, and former Vice President of Beijing Sport University, presented a collection titled "Poems Celebrating Chinese Olympic Champions" to the China Olympic College.

This work, created over ten years by the Huanhua Poetry Society, artistically showcases the elegance of Chinese Olympic champions through a unique integration of poetry, calligraphy, painting, prose, and seals. It serves as both a testament to cultural heritage and a vivid embodiment of the Chinese sports spirit.

During the forum, China Olympic Academy president Li Lingwei — together with honorary president Li Ning, and Olympic champion, national-level coach and BSU professor Dong Dong, as well as Olympic champion Wang Shun — jointly inaugurated the Champions Studio and the Champions Research and Study.

The Champions Studio focus on supporting champion athletes in their professional development and career transitions, promoting the Olympic spirit and nurturing future sporting talent.

Through coordinated efforts and institutional support, the studio aims to strengthen an Olympic education system with Chinese characteristics and contribute to the nation's ambition of becoming a global sports powerhouse.

Zhang Jian, Executive Vice President of the China Olympic College, President of Beijing Sport University, and member of the Chinese Olympic Committee, announced the list of the second batch of distinguished experts for the Chinese Olympic Academy. The list includes 20 leading scholars from China and abroad in fields such as sports policy, Olympic studies, and sports science.

In her opening remarks, President Li Lingwei stressed that the Chinese Olympic Academy is always committed to promoting Olympic values and fostering a deep integration of the Chinese sports spirit with Olympism. The forum serves as the core component of the Academy's Open Day series, which concurrently hosts events like the Chinese Olympic Academy Youth Elite Training Camp, National Collegiate Model International Olympic committee, and 0lympic Youth Forum. These interconnected activities, woven together by Olympic values, create a diverse and value-oriented Olympic education ecosystem.

The keynote session was chaired by Qiao Shangkui, dean of the China Sports Development Research Institute at Beijing Sport University.

Among those giving keynote speeches were Charilaos Tsolakis, dean of the International Olympic Academy and Professor Ren Hai, chief expert of the Chinese Olympic Academy.

Others who talked included Professor Jean-Loup Chappelet of the University of Lausanne; Professor Bruce Kidd of the University of Toronto; and Professor Holger Preuss of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz.

Their presentations explored topics including Olympic values, the role of artificial intelligence in the development of competitive sport, and the impact and enduring legacy of the Olympic Games.

Charilaos Tsolakis, dean of the International Olympic Academy

Professor Ren Hai, chief expert of the Chinese Olympic Academy

Professor Jean-Loup Chappelet of the University of Lausanne (on line)

Professor Bruce Kidd of the University of Toronto

Professor Holger Preuss of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

During the event, led by Professor Wu Dong and students from the China Wushu School of BSU, participants experienced Tai Chi together, witnessing the harmonious blend of traditional Chinese culture and the Olympic Movement.

In the afternoon, a roundtable forum and a closed-door meeting — the Chinese Olympic Academy's 2025 annual work conference — took place. Experts and scholars from China and abroad engaged in in-depth discussions on key Olympic issues.

The forum is expected to have injected new momentum into the innovative development of the Olympic Movement and the deepening of international sports academic cooperation.

Using sport as a bridge, it conveyed the shared values of peace, solidarity and progress — helping to build consensus for advancing China’s development as a leading sporting nation, promote mutual learning among civilizations and shape a brighter future for global sport.