On the evening of August 8, the 17th Beijing Olympic City Sports Culture Festival opened at the Beijing Olympic Museum.

Initiated in 2010, the festival is one of Beijing's main platforms for preserving the city's Olympic legacy and promoting the Olympic spirit.

This year's festival is centered on the cultural charm of Beijing as a "Dual Olympic City" and uses the 2026 Winter Olympics as an opportunity. More than 20 events will be held focusing on youth Olympic education, the promotion of emerging international sports, and the Beijing International Sports Film Week. They include the Olympic City Summer Square (奥运城市夏日广场), the Run Girls (a race event for female runners), a children's triathlon, and the "Rising Stars of the Olympic City" (奥运城市希望之星) training program.

As a key part of the festival, the Olympic City Summer Square draws on the "Dual Olympic" landmarks, including the Beijing Olympic Museum, the giant snowflake-shaped cauldron from the 2022 Winter Olympics, and the sculpture of the Olympic Rings. The square serves as an area for Olympics-themed cultural showcases, exchanges among Olympic host cities, promotion of sports, and themed performances.

Posters from the past Winter Olympics, photographs of Olympic host cities, and other Winter Olympics-related exhibits are on display, alongside cultural showcases, city promotions, and sports activities by several countries and international organizations.

This year's Summer Square highlights Italy's charm, using the 2026 Winter Olympics as a link to present Italian sports culture, cityscapes, and daily life. Representatives of cities, China-based foreign institutions, and sports and cultural organizations from various countries and regions are there to share experiences on the usage of Olympic legacies through exhibitions, city promotions, performances, and sports activities, thereby fostering understanding and cooperation between cities.

(Source: Beijing Fabu)