At the China House of the Paris Olympics, eight Longquan celadon products captivate passing guests. They were made by Dongtu Culture, an enterprise founded in Longquan, Lishui, Zhejiang province.

It took nearly a year for the original ideas to be turned into actual products. Balancing traditional celadon heritage with the Olympics and sportsmanship was the primary challenge for the design team, according to Founder Zhou Chunli.

The team initially crafted over 60 designs, with approximately 20 passing the first selection round. Through continuous refinement, eight celadon products were eventually chosen for the Paris Olympics. 

The creative director, Xu Lexiang, shared insights into the design process, highlighting the fusion of traditional patterns with sports symbols. One example is a "dragon boat racing" food container, where traditional intertwining branch patterns are combined with vividly depicted dragon boats.

The "dragon boat racing" food container. [Photo/WeChat account: gh_2dd9138e31e1]

"The dragon boat is an integral part of Chinese traditional culture, symbolizing unity, cooperation, and the spirit of striving," said Xu.

The interaction between Longquan celadon and sports isn't new. In 2018, three products designed by Zhou's team, including a celadon trophy, were featured at the World Swimming Championships in Hangzhou. The Hangzhou Asian Games also saw over 40 celadon products designated as official merchandise.

This fusion of sports and culture not only promotes Longquan celadon on the world stage but also provides inspiration for its continued preservation and innovation.