Word: ning
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...When Li Ning first came to the American West, he shocked the world by winning six Olympic medals in gymnastics - three of them gold - during the 1984 Los Angeles Games. Prior to 1984, the People's Republic had never even won an Olympic medal, and Li Ning was China's undisputed star of the L.A. Games, becoming an instant Chinese sports legend...
...first time China's biggest shoe company will go toe to toe with Nike, which has aggressively marketed itself in China. But for once, it won't have home-court advantage. Eyes are on the Portland area, also home to Adidas America and Columbia Sportswear, to see if Li Ning can once again surprise the world by taking on American powerhouses in their own backyard and transform Li Ning into one of China's first global consumer brands. (See 10 cool ways to get in shape...
...much of an answer. While South Korea has Samsung and Hyundai, and Japan has Sony and Toyota, in the U.S., China is largely associated with the mass production of low-end goods, with few of its own international brands. To battle China's reputation for cheap imitations, Li Ning has hired top designers from Portland's rich pool of shoe-design talent and placed its high-end sportswear in an airy showroom in a Portland's chic Pearl district. (See pictures of Olympic shoes...
...products in the Portland store do not shy away from Li Ning's origins, highlighting apparel for popular sports in China like badminton, table tennis and kung fu - games you won't find front and center at nearby Niketown. Li Ning consciously decided not to shed its Chinese identity as it expands overseas, hoping instead to ride the growing influence of Chinese culture. Jay Li, the general manager of Li Ning USA, predicts that as Chinese soft power expands, China's tastes "will become part of the fabric of mainstream culture." Says Li: "When the tide starts to turn...
...Even if most Americans don't know the Li Ning name yet, many will remember the man. After his historic 1984 performance, the tycoon leaped back into the Olympic spotlight - literally - during the opening ceremony at the 2008 Beijing Games. Suspended by cables, Li soared into the air and ran a slow-motion aerial lap around the Bird's Nest before lighting the Olympic cauldron in front of an estimated 4 billion television viewers - much to the annoyance of Adidas, which had spent some $80 million to sponsor the Games. (See pictures of the Beijing Olympics opening ceremonies...