Deng Yawen, of China, performs a trick in front of a video screen during the cycling BMX freestyle women's park final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, July 31, 2024, in Paris, France. Photo: Li Hao/GT

During the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympic Games, niche sports like BMX freestyle and fencing have gained popularity in China. Their visual impact and entertainment value have spurred new exercise habits and consumption trends among Chinese sports enthusiasts.

"BMX is highly popular in Guangdong. The recent Olympic gold victory has greatly inspired the community, leading to a noticeable increase in teenagers trying BMX, driven by the Olympics and the summer holidays," Lu Xueshen, a vice president of the Guangdong Cycling Association, told the Global Times on Monday.

The city of Guangzhou is a global leader in BMX development. Influenced by the international BMX culture from the Greater Bay Area, it has developed excellent facilities, a robust production industry and a positive atmosphere ahead of other cities, according to Lu.

The government strongly supports the sport, backing athletes and events. As a result, more BMX competitions are expected to be held in this city, some club leaders in Guangdong told the Global Times on Monday.

China established a national BMX team in 2018, Remarkably, China won its first Olympic gold in the sport, which emerged in the US, in 2024. South China's Guangdong Province is a key center for its development, according to the Yangcheng Evening News.

During the summer vacation, more and more people are coming to our club and the popularity of this sport is much higher than seven years ago when it was set up, a representative of the Beijing-based Grandrock Club told the Global Times on Monday.

The Olympics have spurred more national-level events and media exposure, leading more people to try the sport, industry analysts said.

As of the end of 2023, the number of commercial climbing gyms in the Chinese mainland reached 636, up 31 percent from the beginning of 2022, according to the Economic View.

"Inspired by champion athlete Man Wai Vivian Kong from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, I plan to take up fencing after work to boost my mental strength," Wang Yuxin, a Beijing resident, told the Global Times on Monday. "The average cost of a class is about 200 yuan ($28), which is affordable," she added.

The Olympics hold great importance in China, and when a Chinese team wins medals in a niche sport, it greatly boosts the sport's popularity and can significantly drive its economic impact, He Wenyi, a deputy director of the National Sports Industry Research Base at Peking University, told the Global Times on Monday.

The accomplishments of Olympic champions are also encouraging many families to spend more on their children's athletic activities, both to nurture their talent and promote their overall development, according to He.

The rise in niche sports participation is linked to economic growth in China. "As the economy changes, young people have more leisure time and no longer need to help with household chores. This shift has transformed sports from being functional tools, like bicycles for commuting, into consumer goods that meet recreational and cultural needs," He added.