The inaugural Forbes China ECO Sports Ceremony was held in Xiamen on January 9th, marking a significant milestone in recognizing excellence in China's sports industry.

As a globally respected media organization, Forbes China has been instrumental in promoting and monitoring the sustainable development of China's sports sector. The ceremony celebrated achievements across various domains, including sports innovation, business, technology, and fashion, acknowledging exceptional contributions from individuals, companies, and influential brands in the sports industry over the past year.

A notable highlight of the event was that Xi Wang Sports Nutrition Beverage, produced by ORG Technology Co., Ltd. under the supervision of China Sports Industry Group, received the "Sports Innovation Brand" award, one of the five awards of the 2024 Forbes China Sports Innovation Selection.

Pioneer in Sports Innovation

The Forbes China Sports Innovation Selection evaluates Chinese sports brands based on their achievements in product design, technological advancement, and user experience, with a particular focus on those driving industry development. The comprehensive assessment framework encompasses four key dimensions: innovation capability, commercial performance, financial strength, and core competitive advantages.

Xi Wang distinguished itself through a rigorous selection process, earning recognition alongside notable industry leaders such as Wanda Sports and the League of Legends Pro League.

The "Sports Innovation Brand" award represents more than just commercial success; it acknowledges brands that make substantial contributions to both the sports industry and society at large. Recipients of this prestigious honor have demonstrated excellence across multiple areas, including product innovation, technological development, and market expansion. Moreover, they have shown dedication to promoting public health and fitness, supporting youth sports development, and driving the transformation of the sports industry.

The "China Urban Sports Consumption Report" reveals remarkable growth in China's sports consumption market, which reached 1.5 trillion yuan from January to November 2024, with projections indicating further expansion to 2.8 trillion yuan in 2025. The 2024 Forbes China Sports Innovation Selection results reflect this dynamic growth, highlighting the innovative vigor and development potential across China's sports industry.

Xi Wang's prominent media presence throughout the past year extends beyond Forbes China, with consistent coverage across major media platforms affirming its leadership position in the sports industry. This widespread media attention underscores both the industry's significance and a shared optimism about the sports market's growth trajectory.

Sports excellence is fundamental to Xi Wang's identity, enhanced by ORG's strategic three-year partnership with China Sports Industry Group, a state-designated enterprise in the sports sector. This collaboration has supported Xi Wang's development across multiple areas, including sports-related charitable initiatives, athlete partnerships, and major event marketing.

A notable example is the "China Fitness Campaign" charity project, jointly supported by ORG and Xi Wang. The initiative gained significant traction through coverage by 49 mainstream media outlets, including prestigious national media organizations such as Xinhua News Agency, CCTV, and China Daily. This extensive media coverage has substantially boosted Xi Wang's credibility and visibility. The campaign's success is particularly evident in its digital performance, achieving approximately 6.285 million video views on Douyin (known internationally as TikTok) and generating 652,500 viewer impressions through live streams.

A Legacy of Athletic Excellence

Xi Wang's recent award recognition is deeply rooted in its strategic involvement in the 2024 Paris Olympics and other major sporting events, showcasing remarkable success in sports marketing.

A highlight of the Paris Olympics was the gold medal victory by the world's top-ranked women's badminton doubles team, Fan-Chen pair, who serve as Xi Wang's brand ambassadors.

The brand's presence was further amplified by six prominent influencers and Olympic champions who represented Xi Wang at the event. Their appearances, set against Xi Wang's distinctive Chinese red branding, created a powerful visual statement that helped establish this Chinese energy drink on the international stage.

Xi Wang's distinctive design, featuring the dynamic use of Chinese red, effectively conveyed China's energy and spirit on the global Olympic platform. The brand's representation of Chinese vitality and energy emerged as one of 2024's most successful Olympic marketing campaigns. The impact was substantial, reaching an audience of over 12.29 million people and garnering coverage from more than 20 mainstream media outlets across both sports and consumer markets.

Xi Wang's international success reflects its fundamental connection to sports, which has been integral to the brand since its inception. This sports-centric identity is reinforced by both its positioning as a functional sports beverage and the strong sports industry heritage of its producers, ORG and China Sports Industry Group.

The genesis of Xi Wang is intrinsically linked to Zhou Yunjie, ORG's chairman, whose personal sporting journey includes seven years of professional ice hockey training at Beijing Shichahai Sports School. This athletic background not only honed his physical capabilities but also forged his decisive and bold leadership style. Throughout ORG's three-decade evolution into a metal packaging industry leader, Zhou's athletic passion has maintained the company's deep connection with Chinese sports.

Zhou and his team's intimate understanding of athletics drove their commitment to developing and promoting Xi Wang as a professional sports nutrition beverage. The product was specifically engineered to deliver superior energizing and refreshing benefits, with Zhou's vision centered on creating a sports nutrition beverage specifically tailored to Chinese athletes' needs and preferences.

ORG's strategic focus extends beyond Xi Wang's position as a beverage brand. The company is expanding its operations across multiple dimensions, including sports rights management and sponsorship initiatives. Xi Wang serves as the cornerstone of ORG's vision to develop a comprehensive sports service intellectual property, integrating sports industry infrastructure and project resources into a cohesive ecosystem.

Champions of the Field

Xi Wang's trajectory through 2024 has been marked by strategic cross-industry collaborations and significant achievements across diverse sporting venues.

The partnership with China's elite women's badminton doubles pair, Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan, signed in May 2024, reached its pinnacle with their gold medal victory at the Paris Olympics, embodying the campaign theme "Xi Wang Energizes Paris".

Following its international success, Xi Wang established a commanding presence in domestic sports through a series of prestigious events.

September 26-28: Official strategic partner and exclusive sports nutrition beverage sponsor, 2024 Tour of Huangshan International Road Cycling Race.

October 13-17: Official sponsor, Tour of Chongming Island UCI Women's World Tour.

October 15-20: Exclusive official sports nutrition beverage sponsor, 2024 Tour of Guangxi UCI World Tour cycling race.

October 27: Official beverage partner, Outdoor Sports Industry Conference.

November 3-December 12: the "Xi Wang Cup" 5th National College Ice Hockey League was successfully held.

Xi Wang's global presence expanded significantly through its official sponsorship of AJ Auxerre, supporting the club's return to France's Ligue 1.

The partnership deepened in 2024 when ORG orchestrated AJ Auxerre's landmark China tour. This cultural bridge included the team's participation in the ORG-National Stadium (Bird's Nest) cooperation signing ceremony and various cultural exchange events, with Xi Wang serving as the tour's official sponsor.

The brand further strengthened China-France sporting relations through its support of the football exchange project hosted by the CICG Asia-Pacific in December, solidifying Xi Wang's role in sports diplomacy.

Since its inception, Xi Wang has positioned itself as a catalyst for innovation in China's sports industry. Through strategic participation in both domestic and international sporting events, the brand has systematically built its reputation and influence in the global sports landscape.

Xi Wang's commitment to athletic excellence remains at its core - the playing field is where its vision comes to life, and its achievements are intrinsically linked to the spirit of competition that defines sports at every level.

Where Innovation Meets Style

The evolution of a modern sports industry ecosystem demands a synergy of business acumen, technological innovation, and contemporary fashion sensibilities.

The year 2024 proved transformative, marked by Chinese athletes' exceptional achievements at the Paris Olympics and other international competitions, while domestically, a flourishing grassroots sports culture created new opportunities through the convergence of athletics, technology, and style.

Xi Wang's distinctive approach to innovation manifested notably in May 2024 with the introduction of "Xiao Xi" - an AI digital human to feature on beverage packaging. This virtual health assistant, integrated into Xi Wang's beverage line, represents more than technological advancement; it exemplifies ORG's comprehensive vision for the sports industry. The success of "Xiao Xi" complements ORG's diverse portfolio, which spans sports IP operations, event management, marketing services, and rights management.

Xi Wang's distinctive edge stems from its deep understanding that exceptional packaging design and user experience are fundamental to modern consumer connection.

The brand's signature red metallic packaging does more than catch the eye - it embodies a fusion of athletic dynamism and contemporary style while subtly championing a vibrant, health-conscious lifestyle.

The bold "running rhinoceros" emblem represents ORG's evolution from industry facilitator to sports market leader.

Xi Wang also distinguishes itself through thoughtful design choices, notably the aluminum bottle with its twist-off cap - a deliberate departure from the conventional plastic bottles and pull-tab cans common in the functional beverage sector. This approach maintains the environmental benefits and durability of metal packaging while being perfectly suited for athletes and active consumers who need to stay hydrated throughout their activities.

Xi Wang's design philosophy recognizes that athletic excellence and aesthetic appeal are inherently linked. The brand's approach to fashion ranges from bold statements to meticulous detail, reflecting its commitment to elevating the visual language of sports. This dedication to merging athletic functionality with refined design aesthetics represents Xi Wang's vision for the future of sports culture.