Interview with Shen Hongbin: Decoding the Integrat...

As the "helmsman" of the WTA Jiangxi Open, tournament director Shen Hongbin not only witnessed the entire process of the event from landing to maturity, but also deeply integrated Jiangxi's local characteristics with international tournament standards from a professional perspective. From the innovative layout of "watching matches+cultural tourism", to the customized optimization of the venue, and to the personal role advancement from the executive level to the decision-making level, he has injected unique local genes and international perspectives into the Jiangxi Tennis Open with years of experience in sports events. In this interview, the competition director Shen Hongbin shared the planning ideas and practical explorations behind the core highlights of the competition.

Nowadays, "sports+cultural tourism" has become an important direction for event innovation. For the Jiangxi WTA Open, how to select the most representative local elements and avoid superficial "symbol stacking" is the core consideration in planning. Shen Hongbin admitted that Jiangxi has abundant cultural and tourism resources, but the team pays more attention to exploring symbols that are "in line with the temperament of the competition and have strong recognition": "As the host city, Jiujiang's most core IP is undoubtedly Mount Lu - this mountain has both natural scenery and cultural heritage, and the elegance and vitality advocated by tennis perfectly complement the temperament of Mount Lu. What's even more special is that Mount Lu has an inseparable bond with tennis, which provides a natural foundation for the fusion of the two without appearing stiff. ”
In addition to the "big IP" of Mount Lu, the team is also working on details. We drew inspiration from iconic cultural landscapes in Jiujiang, such as the Yanshui Pavilion, to design exclusive logos and mascots for the event, "Shen Hongbin explained
For audiences who come to Jiangxi for the first time to watch WTA events, "what should they focus on" is often their primary question - should they focus on the matches inside the stadium or experience more activities outside the stadium? Shen Hongbin gave the suggestion of "balancing both" with clear priorities: "Firstly, it is necessary to focus on high-level matches on the court, which is the core value of the tournament. WTA tournaments gather top female tennis players from around the world, whose competitive strength, tactical wisdom, and indomitable spirit on the court are the most touching parts for the audience, and can truly make everyone feel the infectious power of tennis. Many viewers fell in love with this sport because of one viewing. ”But he also emphasized that we should not ignore the "Jiujiang characteristics" outside the competition venue: "We did not separate the competition from the city, but integrated the scenery and intangible cultural heritage of Jiujiang into the surrounding experience of the competition. But more importantly, we hope that everyone can feel the tolerance and enthusiasm of Jiujiang people - this city has a profound cultural heritage, but is not exclusive, and can accept diverse international competition cultures. This atmosphere of" coexistence of competition and city "is a unique highlight of Jiangxi WTA competitions, and also the" Jiujiang temperature "that many spectators will talk about after the competition. ”
From serving as the Secretary General of the event organizing committee in 2019, responsible for execution, to being appointed as the event director by the International Federation of Tennis in 2020, Shen Hongbin's understanding of event operation has undergone a qualitative change in just one year of role transformation. For many people who pay attention to the development of sports events, the adjustment of work focus behind this "advancement" not only concerns their personal growth, but also affects the direction of the event. Recalling this experience, Shen Hongbin bluntly stated that the core was "from focusing on execution details to upgrading to overall planning". After becoming the event director, the scope of responsibilities became much wider. Firstly, we need to consider "leading the team well": I need to lead the entire team to deeply study the various rules and standards of the International Internet Federation, and even invite industry consultants to provide systematic guidance. The ultimate goal is to enable the team to have the professional ability to independently operate top international events, which is actually relatively rare in domestic events of the same level.
The more crucial transformation lies in the improvement of thinking dimensions: "In the past, it was enough to 'run the competition well', but now we need to think from the perspective of the long-term development of the competition - such as how to better combine local characteristics with international standards, how to enhance the brand influence of the competition, and how to make the audience experience better year by year. Simply put, it is a shift from 'completing a competition' to 'turning the competition into a business card of Jiangxi'. These are two completely different ideas
As a venue acceptance expert of the Chinese Athletics Association, Shen Hongbin's understanding of sports venue standards far exceeds that of ordinary event operators, and this professional ability precisely solves a major problem in the preparation of the Jiangxi WTA Open - the hot and humid summer climate in Jiujiang, which puts higher demands on the performance of tennis courts. For audiences and players who are concerned about the professionalism of the event, whether the venue meets international standards and whether it can adapt to the local climate directly determines the core quality of the event.
Speaking of this experience, Shen Hongbin admitted that the initial stage was not smooth: "The venue in Jiujiang did not fully meet the requirements of WTA competitions at the beginning. The most critical issue was the climate - high temperatures and humidity in summer greatly affect the heat resistance, stability, and foot feel of the venue. Players playing on such a venue are prone to discomfort. ”But with a deep understanding of the venue standards, he found a way to break through: "We first selected high-quality materials certified by the International Internet Federation to ensure the core performance of the venue from the source; then we conducted multiple tests and adjustments to the climate in Jiujiang, such as optimizing the drainage system and adjusting the friction coefficient of the materials, to ensure that the performance of the venue will not be compromised in high temperature and high humidity environments
And this dedication ultimately received professional recognition: "Before this year's competition, we specifically invited a third-party organization to conduct a comprehensive inspection, and the results showed that the various indicators of the venue not only fully met the requirements of international competitions, but also achieved customized optimization in terms of heat resistance and comfort, which are suitable for the local climate, and can better meet the competitive needs of players. For the competition, the venue is the foundation. Only with a solid foundation can we talk about other innovations
From the ingenious integration of culture and tourism to the hardcore strength of venue optimization, from the pursuit of excellence at the executive level to the long-term layout at the decision-making level, Director Shen Hongbin, with professionalism and perseverance, has enabled the WTA Jiangxi Open to maintain the level of international top-level events while deeply rooted in the local soil of Jiangxi. In the future, this competition that combines "competitive height" and "local temperature" will become an important bridge connecting Jiangxi and the world, allowing more people to learn about Jiangxi and fall in love with Jiujiang through tennis.

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