"We hope the exhibition can vividly show the development and achievements of Chinese sports. More importantly I hope it can show China sport spirit, which can inspire more people and especially the younger generation," said Zhang Jiasheng, a deputy director of the General Administration of Sport of China on Friday.

Being considered as sports idols themselves, Fan and Han shared their sports lives through speeches during the opening ceremony of the exhibition.

"The past year 2023 has been very important to our preparation for the Paris Olympics. I have been through a lot this year, including competing at the world championship and Hangzhou Asian Games. ... I'm always super excited and thrilled during competitions, and a major reason is that I'm fighting for not just myself but the honor of our country," said Fan.