TEAM CHINA

Going beyond barriers of language and cultural differences

From left to right: Danrui Xiang, Yue Hu, and Xueer Lin (from Beijing Technology and Business University^*)
*As of when the SPORTS CHANGE MAKERS project started

The team of Xueer Lin, Danrui Xiang and Yue Hu was selected as the SPORTS CHANGE MAKERS representing China. Team China’s idea was inspired by what happened to them several years ago. While Xueer and Yue were walking down the street, two South Korean boys talked to them in Korean. One of the boys looked very sick, but they did not understand Korean. Using a translation app, they managed to understand that the children were asking where they could find a pharmacy. Still, this episode made them realize just how big the language barrier is.

Xueer, the team leader, explained the need to adopt their proposal for the Final Presentation:

“The lack of cross-cultural communications caused by language differences became the main barrier that we tried to focus on. The Olympic and Paralympic Games provide interactive opportunities for cross-cultural communications at a higher level than usual. However, with barriers like language differences, such opportunities might slip through our fingers without us even noticing. So, we’re trying to find a fun and sustainable way to help people go beyond these barriers by utilizing the power of sports. Our main target audience during the Olympic and Paralympic Games will be visitors who want to experience the culture of the host country by interacting with the locals, and local people who want to communicate with visitors and showcase the beauty of their home country. Our final solution is an intelligent tandem e-bike that can help to make cross-cultural communication easier and record precious memories in a special way.”

Xueer, the team leader, explained the need to adopt their proposal for the Final Presentation:

“The lack of cross-cultural communications caused by language differences became the main barrier that we tried to focus on. The Olympic and Paralympic Games provide interactive opportunities for cross-cultural communications at a higher level than usual. However, with barriers like language differences, such opportunities might slip through our fingers without us even noticing. So, we’re trying to find a fun and sustainable way to help people go beyond these barriers by utilizing the power of sports. Our main target audience during the Olympic and Paralympic Games will be visitors who want to experience the culture of the host country by interacting with the locals, and local people who want to communicate with visitors and showcase the beauty of their home country. Our final solution is an intelligent tandem e-bike that can help to make cross-cultural communication easier and record precious memories in a special way.”

Idea

“LINK”

Barrier

Lack of cross-cultural communication

Target

Visitors who want to experience the culture of the host country by interacting with the locals
Local peope who want to communicate with visitors and showcase the beauty of home country

Solution

Intelligent Tandem E-Bike
That can help to make cross-cultural communication easier and record precious memories in a fun way

Presentation Movie

Prototype

With technological support from Panasonic, the Chinese team created a prototype for their idea. At the Final presentation, Xueer gave the reason why they chose e-bikes: “Now you may ask, why e-bikes? Why not scooters or cars? Well, we think that e-bikes are a sustainable and healthy way of transportation. Plus, it’s inclusive because it doesn’t require a driver’s license. And the best part is you get to see an amazing 360-degree view of the city.”

Prototype

With technological support from Panasonic, the Chinese team created a prototype for their idea. At the Final presentation, Xueer gave the reason why they chose e-bikes: “Now you may ask, why e-bikes? Why not scooters or cars? Well, we think that e-bikes are a sustainable and healthy way of transportation. Plus, it’s inclusive because it doesn’t require a driver’s license. And the best part is you get to see an amazing 360-degree view of the city.”

From Advisors

At the Final Presentation livestreamed worldwide, the team honed their idea by discussing with advisors, who had various perspectives.

Duane Kale
Vice President, International Paralympic Committee

Thank you for an amazing presentation and the incredible thought that you have put into this concept. As I consider your concept, I too would be privileged to have something that you have designed and made available. My question to you and about your design, and maybe prototype B, is: there will be some people that can’t actually ride a bike; I’d be keen to see what adaptations you’d like to consider for making the bike truly accessible for people with a disability.

Thank you so much for your comment. Actually, our original idea for the bike—the idea that I presented in the first contest—had a chair designed for less physically privileged people. The chair can go down a little bit, and then there would be handrails around it so that it can have support and guarantee safety. But in the later development process, we realized that we were asking for too much from the bike. So, we decided to focus just on the communication part for this presentation, but we definitely hope that we can find some way to include all kinds of people with limited physical abilities to use our bike.

Xueer Lin
SPORTS CHANGE MAKER from China

Thank you so much for your comment. Actually, our original idea for the bike—the idea that I presented in the first contest—had a chair designed for less physically privileged people. The chair can go down a little bit, and then there would be handrails around it so that it can have support and guarantee safety. But in the later development process, we realized that we were asking for too much from the bike. So, we decided to focus just on the communication part for this presentation, but we definitely hope that we can find some way to include all kinds of people with limited physical abilities to use our bike.

Gon Matsunaka
President, Pride House Tokyo

When talking about the Olympic and Paralympic Games, people may think that sports are something only for high-profile athletes, but this is a great idea, because sports are for everybody, and a bicycle is for everybody, too. I also loved the concept that the bicycle is sustainable and inclusive. One thing I have a question about is: the younger generation may be used to communicating using the apps, but sometimes, the elder generation cannot get used to this kind of communication. Do you have any ideas about how to involve this generation in this product?

Thank you. That is a really good question. We haven’t thought about that yet, but maybe we can make a video and put it at the beginning of our app. For example, if you download it and then click on the app, the video will just pop out and explain everything you have to do to use the bike. At the station or the area where many of these bikes will be available, we can put up some posters that include a QR code for the the app.

Thank you. That is a really good question. We haven’t thought about that yet, but maybe we can make a video and put it at the beginning of our app. For example, if you download it and then click on the app, the video will just pop out and explain everything you have to do to use the bike. At the station or the area where many of these bikes will be available, we can put up some posters that include a QR code for the the app.

Nobuyuki Hayashi
Freelance journalist/Consultant

Duane inspired me with this idea. Your original idea was to use a tandem bike, but I was wondering if it’s feasible to do a tandem wheelchair instead.

That is very good! If you are going to go forward with this idea, all people, including people with disabilities, can experience the same feeling. Now I’m mad that I hadn’t thought of it!

That is very good! If you are going to go forward with this idea, all people, including people with disabilities, can experience the same feeling. Now I’m mad that I hadn’t thought of it!

Aaron Fotheringham
Professional WCMX rider

Being a wheelchair user, I was wondering about what that would look like as far as being able to access it. A four-wheel version, I think it’s absolutely awesome. I’m definitely going to try it out when you get that.

Thank you! The more I think about it, the more I think the four-wheeled or wheelchair version is a great idea. If I get the chance to develop this project further, you’ll be the first guest to try it.

Thank you! The more I think about it, the more I think the four-wheeled or wheelchair version is a great idea. If I get the chance to develop this project further, you’ll be the first guest to try it.

Watch our archived video to see all discussions＞

Epilogue

The SPORTS CHANGE MAKERS project gave me a brilliant and inspiring opportunity to go beyond my limits. I realized that anything is worth a try. Unless you try, you don’t know how it will go, and a seemingly stupid idea may change the world for the better. My dream is that one day our idea will become reality and people of different backgrounds will ride on the same bike to have a wonderful time together all over the world.

If I trust myself and just go for it, I can do it.

Xueer Lin, SPORTS CHANGE MAKER representing China

The students have just begun taking on new challenges.
There will be many difficulties and hardships for those entering the workforce.
Hoping that this SPORTS CHANGE MAKERS project will provide clues as to how they will overcome the barriers that may await them, we shall further pursue our activities.

Panasonic is the Official Worldwide Olympic & Paralympic Partner in the Audio and Visual Equipment category.
Should any these projects be implemented and involve products/services outside Panasonic product category, collaboration with other TOPs/OCOGs/NOCs partners is required depending on their respective product categories.

Panasonic is the Official Worldwide Olympic & Paralympic Partner in the Audio and Visual Equipment category. Should any these projects be implemented and involve products/services outside Panasonic product category, collaboration with other TOPs/OCOGs/NOCs partners is required depending on their respective product categories.