The promotional video of "Embrace Paris" — an event to promote Chinese breakdance. [Video provided to en.nantong.gov.cn]

The first stop of "Embrace Paris" — an event to promote Chinese breakdance — opened in Rugao, a county-level city of Nantong in East China's Jiangsu province, on July 22.

"Embrace Paris" will consist of six stops. The winners of each stop will qualify for the finals, and the winners of the finals will have the opportunity to enter the national breakdance training team after a qualifying match. The event includes breakdance competitions and diverse displays of Olympic culture.

More than 500 contestants from more than 30 cities across the country signed up for the competition in Rugao.

Wang Minghao, mayor of the city, delivered a speech at the event. Rugao was the event's first stop, an affirmation of the city's ability to hold sporting events. The event is expected to spur the development of the city's sports industry and spread the Olympic cultural spirit.

Yu Zaiching, a member of the International Olympic Committee and vice chairman of the Chinese Olympic Committee, said that the inclusion of breakdance as an official event in the Paris Olympics marks a major change in the Olympic Games.

The logo of "Embrace Paris" was also released at the event.