Cristiano Ronaldo, Quan Hongchan, Pan Zhanle and Novak Djokovic. (L-R) /Sports Scene
It's difficult to recall a year quite like 2024 in the history of Sports Scene. We had the privilege of covering a blockbuster event – the Paris Summer Olympics – while also navigating two major overlapping football tournaments in the European Championship and Copa America.
Alongside those competitions, we witnessed countless high-stakes showdowns and World Championships across various sports around the globe. From cherished legends bidding farewell, to exciting wunderkinds beginning their journeys, this year has truly been an emotional roller-coaster.
Despite the whirlwind of events, the global audience's affection for Sports Scene has remained steadfast and enduring. In 2024, our posts achieved a remarkable total readership of 1.163 billion, with 124 million unique visitors, 247 million video views, and 8.41 million interactions, all contributing to a total follower count exceeding 2.22 million. Notably, our overseas platform metrics continued to impress, boasting 592 million in readership, 124 million unique users, and 90.21 million video views.
Summarizing a year like this is no small feat, but we've curated our most-viewed content across major social media platforms, to provide you with a glimpse of the sporting moments that captivated your attention during this sensational year.
Al Nassr striker Cristiano Ronaldo speaks at a press conference in Shenzhen, China, January 23, 2024. /CFP
On Facebook, we had an impressive 128 posts that garnered more than one million views each, marking a significant increase in both reach and engagement compared to last year. Among these, a post featuring Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo showcasing his chopstick skills during an Al Nassr event in China achieved a staggering 26.2 million views and 10.62 million video plays, with interactions exceeding 300,000. As his career enters its twilight, Ronaldo's transition into a major social media influencer is nothing short of extraordinary.
In second place was a post featuring another global icon, tennis "GOAT" Novak Djokovic. The 37-year-old Serbian legend captured hearts with an emotional speech after defeating Spanish rising star Carlos Alcaraz to secure the men's singles gold medal at the Paris Summer Olympics, racking up 7.72 million views and 5.6 million video plays.
Serbia's Novak Djokovic reacts after defeating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in the men's singles tennis final at the Roland Garros Stadium during the Summer Olympics in Paris, France, August 4, 2024. /CFP
Rounding out the top three was yet another post closely related to Ronaldo. News of his arrival in Germany with the Portuguese national team for what would likely be his final European Championship earned 6.88 million views and 2.44 million video plays.
On YouTube, Sports Scene achieved a stunning milestone with 27 videos surpassing 100,000 views, while our subscriber count grew by 21,000, a remarkable increase of 55% compared to the previous year. Notably, a substantial 16.1% of our audience comes from the United States.
Among our standout content was a video featuring Chinese diving sensation Quan Hongchan and her teammate, fellow Olympic champion Xie Siyi, sharing affectionate moments during China's National Games, which captured an impressive 650,000 views. At just 17-years-old, Quan has become an internet hit, making history as the youngest three-time Olympic gold medalist from China.
China's Quan Hongchan kisses her gold medal after winning the women's 10m platform final at the Summer Olympics in Paris, France, August 6, 2024. /CFP
Another highly viewed moment occurred when she crossed paths with freestyle skiing champion Gu Ailing in Paris, racking up 610,000 views. Quan was adorably surprised when Gu made a special appearance at her press conference after she and her diving partner, Chen Yuxi, triumphed in the women's synchronized 10-meter platform final.
Joining the ranks of this new generation of Chinese sports stars is swimmer Pan Zhanle. The 20-year-old made waves by breaking his own world record in the 100m freestyle with a stunning time of 46.40 seconds at the Paris Summer Olympics. That dominant achievement shattered his own mark from the World Championships in Doha in February, with the news of his brilliant achievement garnering 360,000 views.
Cui Yongxi (L) of the Brooklyn Nets and Yuki Kawamura of the Memphis Grizzlies talk before their National Basketball Association (NBA) teams face off at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, October 30, 2024. /CFP
On X, we achieved a total readership of 15.2 million, with video views reaching 2.37 million. Our engagement included more than a thousand interactions with more than 45 Chinese embassies, diplomats, and official organizations like the International Olympic Committee.
One standout post featured Malaysian women's badminton pair, Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah, who revived their Paris Summer Olympics campaign with an incredible victory over Japan's two-time world champions, Mayu Matsumoto and Wakana Nagahara, earning over one million views.
Additionally, a viral exchange between Chinese basketball player Cui Yongxi and Japanese competitor Yuki Kawamura before their teams faced off in a game in the NBA attracted more than 350,000 views.
China's Zheng Si Wei (L) and Huang Yaqiong compete in the mixed doubles badminton final at the Summer Olympics in Paris, France, August 2, 2024. /CFP
Another sought-after post showcased the iconic badminton mixed doubles pair, Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong, discussing their goals ahead of the Paris Summer Olympics, which resonated well with fans and garnered over 260,000 views.
Zheng and Huang's illustrious careers are adorned with numerous accolades, including Olympic gold, three world championships, four All England Open titles and four World Tour Finals victories.
After wrapping up their campaign at this year's World Tour Finals in Hangzhou, they have decided to step back from the international stage. Recently, Sports Scene had the opportunity to conduct an exclusive interview with the duo, in which they shared insights into their future plans. This is an interview you won't want to miss!