Quzhou turns national athletics event into city showcase

The 2026 National Athletics Championships are held in Quzhou, Zhejiang province. [Photo/Quzhou Daily]

Sprinter Chen Yujie, 17, won the women's 100m in 11.08 seconds at the 2026 National Athletics Championships in Quzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, on Aug 13, setting an Asian U20 record, with nearly 10,000 spectators watching the race.

For Quzhou, this top-level national athletics event has become more than a mere competition — it is part of the city's showcase of sports, local culture, and consumer activity.

The championships featured leading athletes, including Xie Zhenye, who won the men's 100m in 10.10 seconds, and Yang Kegu, who claimed the men's 10,000m title. Emerging athletes, including Liu Xiajun and Xue Kunzhi, also delivered strong performances.

During this year's championships from Aug 12 to 16, an 18-stall cultural and tourism market was set up around the audience area in Quzhou Sports Center Stadium, offering local food and beverages, such as Huyou juice, as well as cultural products.

Quzhou has hosted the national athletics championships for four consecutive years, helping the city improve its sports facilities and strengthen its capabilities in event organization, volunteer services, transportation, and hospitality.

The championships have become a recurring platform connecting elite sports with everyday city life, while giving Quzhou another channel to showcase its local culture and support related businesses.