Where innovation meets inclusivity

The latest episode of Youth Power invites young sports fans from around the world to explore the Paris Olympics. DONG MING/FOR CHINA DAILY

A new episode of Youth Power highlights how global Gen Z is experiencing the Paris Olympics' innovations, inclusivity, and unifying power.

While the 2024 Olympic Games are in full swing in Paris, the latest episode of China Daily's Youth Power, which aired on July 30, featured nine young sports fans from around the world exploring the innovations at the Paris Olympics, its commitment to inclusivity, and its power to unite people globally.

Titled "The Fresh Olympic Spirit of Global Gen Z", this episode brought the international visitors to the Chinese Table Tennis College at Shanghai University of Sport (SUS), where they observed a serving robot in action, used in both professional settings and everyday practice.

Lu Yunfei, a teacher at the college, explained that this robot is the world's first to primarily use an arm mechanism for serving, effectively simulating real-world competitive and training scenarios by replicating the spin generated by rubber, a feature that sets it apart from other robots.

According to Lu, the robot was previously used for training with the Chinese national table tennis team. Recently, efforts have been made to introduce it to enthusiasts and players in the broader table tennis community.

"This is a great example of innovation inspired by the Olympics that benefits more people," said Wang Licheng, a 20-year-old Chinese student at Peking University and the host of this episode.