HONG KONG, Dec. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) continues to advance interdisciplinary learning with the launch of its second course under the Advanced Education Programme, offered by the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR).
Beginning in Spring 2026, the new course, "Sustainable Cities", will run for thirteen weeks and cover five applied science areas, including urban informatics, sustainable urban systems and technologies, smart energy systems, land and environmental management, and resource engineering with carbon neutrality. Designed by PolyU experts, the programme equips learners with knowledge of pressing global challenges, PolyU-led innovations addressing them, and technological challenges in related fields.
The course is open free of charge to eligible members of the public, requires no prior background, and is available in dual mode — in-person or online — to accommodate learners in Hong Kong and abroad. Participants who meet attendance requirements may apply for a certificate of completion.
Enrolment closes on 31 December 2025, with limited quota for physical attendance and online places available on a first-come, first-served basis.
For details and registration, please visit: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/pair/education/.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Supporting future-ready cities: PolyU launches free advanced education course on sustainable city developments
SANYA, China, Jan. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Orange Lion Sports (formerly Alibaba Sports), a global sports event operator, is redefining how major athletic competitions and tourism converge through the coordinated integration of digital platforms and consumer services. The recent 2025 Hainan (Sanya) Marathon, supported by the company, showcased an "event-as-journey" experience that delivered a professionally operated, high-quality racing platform while supporting measurable economic growth for the host city. The marathon saw hotel occupancy in Sanya soar to 92%, with a notable 35% surge in spending at local businesses along the race route, establishing a promising blueprint for the scalable "racecation" model.
"We are committed to creating lasting value for athletes and sports enthusiasts," said Yang Yong, General Manager of Events and Commercialization at event partner Orange Lion Sports. "We activated resources across the Alibaba ecosystem, including Taobao, Fliggy, Alibaba Health, Ant Chain, and Amap, to extend engagement beyond race day. This approach attracted runners from across Hainan, other parts of China, and overseas, while encouraging additional event-related spending."
The provincial tourism and sports department has introduced funding incentives for 2026 sports events to attract national and international competitions. Orange Lion Sports has demonstrated how large-scale events can generate sustained economic activity and benefit local businesses by digitally integrating dining, lodging, transportation, entertainment, and shopping. In partnership with Taobao, the company launched a "Winter Warm-up Festival" that distributed tailored promotional vouchers and offers ahead of the event, designed to connect race participation with consumer engagement by introducing regional culinary specialties such as fermented vinegar hot pot and traditional Li-Miao cuisine to runners across China.
The economic benefits were sustained beyond the race period. According to Fliggy data, hotel bookings in Sanya began rising steadily from late October 2025, when event promotions launched, and remained strong throughout the marathon period. The momentum extended beyond the race, coinciding with the New Year holiday travel period. Data from the Sanya tourism bureau shows that during the 2026 New Year holiday, the city welcomed 650,800 visitor arrivals, with tourism revenue of 1.299 billion yuan (approx. US$186 million) generated, illustrating the role of the "racecation" model in supporting tourism demand.
In the future, Orange Lion Sports will harness AI technology to enhance sports events and promote fitness for all, in line with their assertion at CES in 2017: AI is the future of sports development.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Harnessing the Power of Sports: Orange Lion Sports Leads the Way in Driving the Emerging Trend of "Racecation"
