# youth innovation

From Chengdu’s Labs to the Pitch: How China Is Turning Drones into Sport—and Soft Power

Chengdu hosted the Geely·Ablefly National Drone Football Championship on 9 February, an event that blended competition and technological display. The final highlighted local training infrastructure, international student participation and municipal backing for the emerging “technology + sport” sector, underscoring Chengdu’s aim to turn recreational drone activity into an organised, innovation-driven industry.