Qingdao has many "Olympic Symbols," showing its predestined relationship with the Olympics.

Qingdao Tiantai Stadium was built as a replica of the main venue of the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984. The staggered stairs of its floating bridge at the pier were built according to Olympic diving standards. Since 1954, Qingdao has staged many water sports such as sailing, windsurfing, powerboat racing and water skiing.

In 2008, Qingdao became a host city for the 29th Olympic Games sailing competitions and 13th Paralympics. The Olympic Sailing Center was built at Fushan Bay to welcome athletes from around the world to compete for gold medals in 11 events in nine sailing categories.

Following the Olympic Games, national and international sailing, windsurfing and powerboat races are often held in Qingdao, which is becoming the sailing capital in China.

During this year's Spring Festival, the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race staged the China Leg in Qingdao. Several months later on June 1, the "SinoFlying Cup" City Club Open Regatta, an important sailing event recognized by the ISAF, made its debut in Qingdao. It attracted more than 70 sailors from 11 teams from sailing clubs in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Yantai, Qingdao and Hong Kong. It is a platform for high-level sailing and a forum where yacht clubs can exchange ideas and communicate with each other.

Yin Jian, windsurfing champion at the Beijing Olympics, represented the Qingdao Fengfan International Sailing Club. This time, she sailed in a regatta instead of windsurfing.