In 1932, Liu Changchun, a Dalian local resident, competed in the 10th Olympic Games held in Los Angeles. Liu was the first Chinese to take part in the Olympics. Decades have passed, the spirit of sport loving has been passed down through the generations and now Dalian is known as a "Soccer City" and the "Home of Track & Field".

In September 1999, Mr. Samaranch, Chairman of the International Olympic Committee of the day, attended the foundation-stone laying ceremony for the Square. To the south of the square stands the city's central stadium which its soccer team calls home.