Hubert Hurkacz of Poland competes in the men's singles final against Andrey Rublev of Russia at the Shanghai Masters in east China's Shanghai Municipality, October 15, 2023. /CFP
A total of 118 sports events, attended by about 190,000 athletes, attracted 1.29 million spectators and generated 371.3 million yuan (about $51.6 million) in consumption plus relative industry effects worth 12.864 billion yuan (about $1.78 billion), according to a report published by the Shanghai Administration of Sports in cooperation with the Shanghai University of Sport and the Shanghai Oriental Sports Evaluation and Consultation Center on Friday.
One hundred and seventeen domestic and international sports events, plus a local 3x3 basketball teenager tournament, were rated in the report based on the attention they received, their professional level and their contributions to sports development.
The Shanghai Masters (tennis) was rated 976 out of 1,000 points, the highest of all events. It's followed by the Shanghai International Marathon (941 points) and the Shanghai Half Marathon (881 points).
According to the report, 36 of the 118 events were international competitions. Forty of the events reached at least the seventh edition. Fifteen of the top-20-rated events were branded as "Shanghai Events."
Athletes compete in the Shanghai International Marathon in east China's Shanghai Municipality, November 26, 2023. /CFP
The 118 events led to a direct economic influence of 493.8 million yuan (about $68.6 million) and a bigger indirect influence that included relative industry effects worth 12.864 billion yuan (about $1.78 billion), 425 million yuan (about $59 million) of taxes, as well as 32,268 jobs.
Shanghai will host more sports events in 2024. So far, there have been a total of 175 confirmed events, including the Olympic Qualifier Series of BMX freestyle, breaking, skateboarding and sport climbing for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The series in Shanghai will begin on May 16 and end on May 19.
The World Aquatics Swimming World Cup will take place in Shanghai between October 18 and 20. The Formula One World Championship will return to the city after three years with the Chinese Grand Prix between April 19 and 21.