China’s Virtual Sports Open finals conclude in Hefei
A three-day competition and accompanying public carnival brought virtual cycling, golf and motor racing to the eastern Chinese city.
The 2026 China Virtual Sports Open finals concluded on 30 August at Shaoquan Sports Centre in Hefei, Anhui province. The three-day event crowned champions across its disciplines, while an accompanying virtual sports carnival attracted nearly 10,000 visits, according to the Anhui Provincial Sports Bureau.
Finalists qualified through a nationwide online competition involving more than 8,000 entrants. Standardised rules, refereeing and connected equipment linked broad online participation with an on-site final. The competitive environment was virtual, but performance still depended on the athletes’ physical output, technique and judgement.
Virtual cycling translated power and cadence into race performance; virtual golf provided feedback on shot parameters; and sim racing tested control, decision-making and tactical consistency. The carnival extended the event beyond competition, giving visitors opportunities to try activities such as virtual skiing and simulated driving. Olympic diving champion Wang Zongyuan also appeared at the venue.
For Hefei’s Xinzhan High-tech Zone, hosting the event provided a setting to demonstrate motion-data capture, simulation and related digital technologies. The combination of online qualifying, on-site finals and public participation illustrated how virtual sport can connect organised competition with accessible opportunities to try new activities.