The finals of the 17th Shanghai International Popular Sports Festival will take place in the Lin-gang Special Area from Oct 18 to 19. Leading up to the event, activities themed "Entering Scenic Spots, Business Districts, and Schools" kicked off on Friday, with winners of popular events like rope skipping and plank qualifying directly for the finals, as announced at a news conference at the Shanghai L+SNOW Indoor Skiing Theme Resort.

This year's festival introduces several new highlights, notably featuring "ice and snow" as its core theme for the first time, along with four cross-border events. The festival will debut the Shanghai Youth Alpine Skiing Championships and an ice and snow experience day. Attendees can explore professional ski slopes at the Shanghai L+SNOW Indoor Skiing Theme Resort and watch high-level skiing performances.

Winter Olympic champion Yang Yang, this year's festival ambassador, stated, "Sports are not just for a select few; they are a source of joy for everyone. Transitioning from a professional athlete to a promoter of national fitness continues my mission." She encouraged citizens to participate actively, experience the joy of sports, and help ice and snow sports flourish in southern China.