Children pose for a group photo in front of the National Aquatics Center in Beijing, April 2, 2023. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

The National Aquatics Center in Beijing held a series of activities on April 2 to mark the 16th World Autism Awareness Day, encouraging the public to "respect differences and re-ignite hope for autistic children."

The event featured sports tailored for people with disabilities and activities promoting interaction between autistic and non-autistic children, alongside children's art exhibitions and a charity fair.

A forum on the sustainable development of teenagers with disabilities was also held at the dual-Olympic venue, gathering experts and parents of autistic children to discuss treatment methods that integrate sports and medicine.

The venue also partnered with Jinmao Tower, a landmark building in Shanghai, to illuminate both structures in blue via live video streaming on Sunday night, raising public awareness for "children from the stars," a term often used to describe autistic children in China.

In addition to in-person experiences, the venue launched a virtual art exhibition and a nationwide online jogging campaign to garner further support for children with autism.

The National Aquatics Center has organized the annual "Light it Blue" event for 13 consecutive years since 2011. Currently, the center is working with other Winter Olympic venues and local AI companies to develop more sports training programs and advanced tech products. The initiative aims to fulfill the center's corporate social responsibility and honor its commitment to boosting public welfare through its dual-Olympic facilities.

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