Beijing Winter Olympics: What's next? Feb 16th

What are China's future plans and directions for the development of the winter sports industry? How will these be intertwined with other industries? What are the areas presenting opportunities to EU SMEs? What are the main challenges and how to deal with them?

While the Beijing Winter Games 2022 are unfolding, together with the EU SME Centre we have invited industry experts and businesses to discuss and answer these questions. Join us on Wednesday February 16th for this hybrid workshop – offline in Beijing, and online on Zoom.

After the discussion, a networking session with the onsite participants will follow, during which the Winter Olympics races will also be livestreamed.

AGENDA

16:00 - 16:15    Welcome remarks

16:15 - 16:35   "Future Developments and Direction of Winter Sports in China – Ms. Zhang Li, Vice President of Asia Digital Group

16:35 - 16:50   "Opportunities and Challenges for EU SMEs" – Mr. Justin Downes, President of Axis Leisure Management (Beijing)

16:50 - 17:20   Case studies of Winter Sports Companies:

                             Prinoth AG - Mr. Rees Yu, Olympic Project Manager

                             Vepe Oy Peltonen China- Dr. Andy Niu, President

                             Snowelan Sport Development – Mr. Chen Leo LIAO, Marketing Director

17:20 - 17:45    Q&A

17:45 - 19:00    Networking and live streaming of Cross-Country Ski Olympic Races 

Venue: 
Intercontinental 
No. 1 South Sanlitun Road, Chaoyang District , Beijing ,100027, China
北京市朝阳区南三里屯路1号, 北京

Register:
This event is free of charge, RSVP is required: 

*Seats are limited and will be reserved on a first come first served basis

SPEAKERS

Ms. Zhang Li, Vice President of Asia Digital Group 
She is Vice President of Asia Digital Group since joining IDG, and previously Vice President of IDG China and also Vice President of IDG Ventures Management and Vice President of IDG Sports. She has over 20 years of work experience in the industry, government and academia with an international background in China, USA and Europe. She has rich experience in innovation and entrepreneurship, investment and merger and acquisition, venture philanthropy, impact investing, digital economy, education, culture, tourism, sports industry, mountain economics, financial technology (FinTech), information technology, AI, lean management, incubator and science park, and cross-culture management. She is also the FinTech Expert accredited by China Capital Market Institute, Councilor of Steering Committee of China-Europe Health and Sports Council, Secretary General of Finland-China Entrepreneurs Association, the Entrepreneurship Mentor at the Students and Scholars Association, and the Honorary Chairperson of Cross-Culture Communication Translation Association, Editor-in-Chief of China Winter Sports White Paper, Councilor of China Sports Industry Research Institute, Vice Chairperson of the Steering and Evaluation Committee of China Winter Sports Awards, Councilor of Steering Committee of China-Europe Health and Sports Council 

Mr. Justin Downes, President of Axis Leisure Management (Beijing)
Justin Downes serves as President of Axis Leisure Management and has held a number of Senior Resort & Tourism Leadership roles over 25 years and on 3 continents including some of the industry’s leading four-season resorts.  Justin has been based in Beijing since 2007.
Prior to founding Axis, Justin served as Sr VP Operations for Melco China Resorts; responsible for the planning, development and operation of 5 major resorts in China’s North East, including Yabuli, & Beidahu Resorts. Justin later served as COO for Genting Secret Garden Resort – Hebei, overseeing business and master planning for this 2022 Olympic venue leading up to its grand opening. Axis is currently involved in several high-profile destination mountain resort developments in North East China, including Thaiwoo & Taizicheng Resorts in Chongli, and the Yanqing Olympic Alpine Venue, and multiple Indoor Ski & Snowplay projects across the country. Justin currently serves on the Board of Directors of Freestyle Canada, and the Canada China Business Council.

Mr. Rees Yu, Olympic Project Manager, Prinoth AG
Rees Yu joined POMA Beijing (a subsidiary of HTI group) in 2017, he served as the Product  manager for DemacLenko (a brand of HTI in snow making) and became an expert for snow making system.
In 2019, Rees was assigned by Prinoth (a brand of HTI in snow grooming) to supply and service for Olympic program, he dealt with both Beijing Olympic Committee and all venue owners on all aspects, implemented digitalization for snow grooming in Genting Park which helped significantly in making freestyle competition course.  

Dr. Andy Niu, President of Vepe China, VP CASME
He is the Vice President of Vepe China, he also serves as Vice President of China Association of Small & Medium Commercial Enterprises (CASME) and Chairman of Z-park Creative Culture & Game Industry Development Alliance (ZCGA).
Post-Doctorate of Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics and holds a Ph.D. in management of the University of San Carlos. He also served as executive deputy director of Overseas Development Center of China International Cooperation Association of S&M Enterprises (CICASME), and Vice-chairman of China Annual Conference of S&M Entrepreneurs (CACSME).

Mr. Chen Leo LIAO, Marketing Director of Snowelan Sport Development 
Mr Leo Liao is the Marketing Director at Snowelan, the Slovenian leading company producing personal ski equipment and high-end machinery, active in China for 20 years. Mr Leo Liao is a dynamic, multilingual business professional with over a decade of experience in marketing and branding of consumer goods, tourism, wine and dining.

The CICC Team