Sports industry prospers in Baotou

Baotou, the largest city of North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, has seen remarkable progress in its sports industry with a real emphasis put into areas including sports facilities,soccer training for teenagers and citywide sports events.

Rapid development in the sports industry has won Baotou city numerous national-level honors including as one of the 45 sports industry contact cities in China, designated by the General Administration of Sports of China, and as one of the top 10 Sports Leisure Cities in China released by China Sports Daily and Xinhua News Agency.

The city boasts Baotou Olympic Sports Center, which has been designated as a teenagers' soccer summer camp base by the General Administration of Sports of China and one of the 20 provincial-level teenage soccer training centers in China by the Chinese Football Association (CFA).

A stadium stands in Baotou Olympic Sports Center. The sports center, covering an area of 600 mu (40 hectares), has been the venue for large-scale sports events in Baotou since its opening in June 2011, including the 2010 International High School Students' Volleyball Tournament and the 11th National Sports Meeting for Middle and High School Students. [Photo/Baotou Daily]

Baotou Olympic Sports Center has an air-supported structure which serves as an indoor badminton and tennis facility. [Photo/Baotou Daily]