China Focus: China’s innovations sparkle at Paris Olympics

GUANGZHOU, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) — With its bright eyes and warm smile, the Olympic Phryge mascot has gained in popularity as the Paris Olympics draws to a close. Prior to the Olympics, only a few people were aware that some early prototypes of the Phryges had visited China multiple times before the final version was settled on.
Data from the Paris Olympics Organizing Committee shows that 80 percent of the Phryges are manufactured in China. Quanzhou Nanyang Arts & Crafts Co., Ltd. is a commissioned manufacturer producing the mascots for the event.
“Phryge is known for its unique standing posture, with its slender legs supporting a large body, making it a challenging design in the production process,” said Jiang Lingyan, senior sales manager of the company.
The design team innovatively combined two types of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material in one Phryge to address the potential bumps and impacts during international long-distance transport, with the legs reinforced by rigid PVC and the eyelashes made from soft PVC to maintain the design’s unique look, said Jiang.
According to Jiang, 3D modeling and printing techniques were implemented during the sample design and production process to ensure precision in every detail. Also, to make sure each pair of eyes is vivid and expressive, the company had to precisely control the distribution of ink and pressure.
After numerous trials and improvements, the sample made six round trips between China and France over a period of nine months before the Olympics opened. Nanyang Arts & Crafts was commissioned to produce seven types of resin figurines and two types of keychains, covering various sizes and designs, with a total quantity of 200,000 pieces.
Comfortable sportswear provides athletes with the support they need to achieve great results. China’s sportswear brand Peak cooperated with the Olympic committees of 11 countries to offer sportswear and suits for athletes.
“By working with these Olympic committees, we showcase China’s high-quality products, along with our unique understanding and innovative capabilities in sports equipment,” said Xu Jingnan, chairman of the board at PEAK.
ANTA, another Chinese sportswear manufacturer, provides Chinese athletes with team uniforms for medal ceremonies, which are made from eco-friendly materials such as recycled nylon and recycled polyester, achieving a carbon reduction of over 50 percent.
“To make customized shoes for athletes, we set up a laboratory that has three tracks to simulate different running environments. Also, technologies including foot scanners and a 3D motion capture system are employed,” said Zheng Zhiyi, chief scientist of ANTA Sports Science Lab.
Beyond the stadiums, drones shift positions in the sky to form various shapes, including that of an Olympic torchbearer. Over 50 LED screens shipped from China are deployed around Paris to offer live-streaming services for the audience. These advanced technological products are all developed and manufactured in China.
According to Zhao Kai, vice president of the LED screen provider Absen, the screens are notable for their high stability and energy efficiency. It is estimated that an outdoor LED screen covering an area of 2,000 square meters can cut energy consumption by 20 percent compared to traditional screens.
“We not only provide green LED display solutions, but also showcase the company’s technological innovation and commitment to exploring new advancements,” said Zhao. ■