The Road to Becoming a Sports Powerhouse — The Value and Inspiration of Xi Jinping's Important Discourses on Sports (Part 3)
Chapter 3 - Promoting Historical Leap: The Practical Achievements of Xi Jinping's Important Discourse on Sports
In today’s piece, we are briefing you on the Chapter 3 of our report, “The Road to Becoming a Sports Powerhouse — The Value and Inspiration of Xi Jinping's Important Discourses on Sports.” We would love to answer any questions you might have so make sure to drop a like, comment, and subscribe for more!
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, China has vigorously advanced the construction of a sports powerhouse and a healthy China. The vision of a sports power house has seamlessly merged with the Chinese Dream, with China presenting itself on the global sports stage as a "sunny, prosperous, open, and hopeful nation."
China adheres to the simultaneous development of mass sports, competitive sports, and the sports industry. It maintains a new nationwide system, promotes openness and community-wide participation in sports, and deepens anti-corruption efforts in the sports sector. Significant progress has been achieved in anti-doping measures, and a clear and positive sports ecosystem is being built to ensure steady progress toward becoming a sports powerhouse. Under the guidance of Xi Jinping's important discourse on sports, China's sports landscape has undergone many historic changes and achieved numerous accomplishments in the new era. A uniquely Chinese path to building a sports powerhouse is now clearly unfolding before the world.
1. Change in Structure: The Three-In-One Approach
In the new era, the construction of a sports powerhouse in China has acquired deeper connotations, leading to profound changes in its development structure. Xi Jinping emphasizes "promoting the coordinated development of mass sports, competitive sports, and the sports industry" as a crucial task in accelerating the construction of a sports powerhouse. This has led to the establishment of a new three-in-one development pattern that supports the realization of the dream of a sports powerhouse.
Nationwide Fitness Boom
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the national strategy for fitness has been deeply implemented, significantly improving public services. The integration of national fitness with public health has continuously enhanced people's sense of fulfillment and happiness, injecting strong momentum into realizing a sports powerhouse and a Healthy China. In 2014, China elevated national fitness to a national strategy, leading to an unprecedented surge in fitness enthusiasm. Sports parks have become increasingly common, fitness facilities more advanced, and the formation of 15-minute fitness circles has surged. The "Farmers' Sports Fitness Project" now covers the vast majority of villages in China, with mass sports events flourishing both online and offline. Scientific fitness guidance is reaching people everywhere, with over 500 million people regularly participating in sports, and the goal of "engaging 300 million people in ice and snow sports" becoming a reality. Sports are increasingly becoming an important aspect of fulfilling the Chinese people's aspirations for a better life.
Strong Competitive Sports
Competitive sports are a crucial part of the sports industry and play a leading and driving role in building a sports powerhouse. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, China's comprehensive strength and international influence in competitive sports have continuously increased. China has consistently ranked among the top three in the medal tally at the Summer Olympics, with an ever- expanding range of gold- winning events. At the Paris Olympics, the Chinese delegation clinched 40 gold, 27 silver and 24 bronze medals in Paris, marking their best performance at an overseas Summer Olympics. At the Beijing Winter Olympics, China secured nine gold, four silver, and two bronze medals, achieving its best performance in Winter Olympics history.
Building on stable performances at the Olympics, Chinese athletes have also excelled in other international competitions in tennis, racing, boxing, chess, golf, and more. China's competitive sports are gradually expanding into broader fields, demonstrating increasing comprehensive strength.
Thriving Sports Industry
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the overall scale of China's sports industry has significantly increased, with an improving development environment and continuously unleashed market potential, significantly enhancing its status and role in the national economy. The sports industry has experienced an average annual growth rate of over 10 percent, with total scale and industrial added value growth rates far exceeding the GDP growth rate during the same period. As a new force in the national economy, the sports industry has shown immense potential.
The sports industry has become a new driver of consumption potential, innovation, entrepreneurship, and employment. China has established a sports industry system led by competitive performance and fitness leisure, with sports venue services, sports training, sports manufacturing, and sports media all developing together. This system effectively promotes social employment and addresses structural employment issues.
The deep integration of sports with various fields has added new momentum to the high- quality development of China's economy. The in- depth development of the sports industry has given rise to new models that integrate sports with culture, tourism, health, and training. The "sports + " and " + sports" concepts have led to increasing cross-penetration and interdependence between the sports industry and related industries, resulting in the emergence of new business forms.
2. Systemic Changes: The Increasing Perfection of the New National System
The national system reflects socialism's advantage in concentrating resources to achieve significant tasks, serving as the institutional guarantee for the development of Chinese competitive sports. This system is a key factor behind the remarkable achievements of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
In sports, the traditional national system has effectively improved the level of competitive sports, showcasing China's institutional advantages and confidence in its chosen path. However, as economic reforms deepen, conflicts between the traditional national system and market mechanisms have become increasingly evident. Addressing issues such as excelling in gold-winning sports, resolving long-standing challenges in football, basketball, and volleyball, advancing scientific research and technological support, providing scientific fitness guidance, integrating sports with health in mass sports, preparing for competitions, and organizing large-scale events all require a new system that mobilizes the collective efforts of the government, society, industry, and market.
The new national system integrates the advantage of socialism in concentrating resources for significant tasks with the competitive advantage of market resource allocation within the socialist market economy. It mobilizes national resources to achieve national goals through a new mechanism. In competitive sports, it emphasizes the combination of the traditional national system with market mechanisms, promoting the integration of Chinese competitive sports into the overall development of the economy and society while striving for national glory.
Amid complex global challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic, China successfully hosted the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics, demonstrating the effectiveness of the new national system. Xi Jinping has continuously shown concern and guidance, planning and promoting the Winter Olympics through five in-depth on-site inspections and four special meetings, leaving footprints across the three Beijing 2022 competition zones, and issuing a series of important directives, pooling the nation's efforts for the Winter Games.
During these seven years, many Winter Olympic sports in China developed from scratch to world-class levels. All Beijing 2022 venues were completed ahead of schedule, the Beijing-Zhangjiakou and Beijing-Chongli highways were fully opened, significant achievements were made in environmental protection in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, urban construction and governance capabilities were rapidly improved, and volunteer services were enthusiastic and considerate. This reflects the new national system's abilities in coordination, organization, implementation, and resource optimization, as well as its capacity to concentrate resources to accomplish major, challenging, and urgent tasks.
Enhancing the Comprehensive Strength of Chinese Competitive Sports
Compared to the traditional national system, which focused solely on achieving Olympic glory, the new national system emphasizes combining glory with education. It looks at both athletic performance and self-improvement, valuing medals alongside nationwide fitness, the development of sports projects, and the legacy benefits of hosting large events. Competitive sports now serve multiple functions, including competition, leisure, entertainment, culture, and education, meeting the diverse needs of the people.
Integrating Competitive Sports into Economic and Social Development
The new national system addresses the high-quality development of competitive sports from "existence to excellence" and "weakness to strength," complementing the advantages of an active government and an effective market. The government integrates quality resources in athlete selection, training, education, competition, and scientific research, promoting the transformation of research achievements to foster economic and social development.
Contributing to the Development of the Olympic Movement
In recent years, China has successfully hosted major international sports events such as the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games, Beijing Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, Chengdu Universiade, and Hangzhou Asian Games. The number of world championships won and world records set by Chinese athletes has rapidly increased. These practices highlight the unique advantages of the new national system, providing valuable experience for the development of world competitive sports.
3. Changing the Main Body: Nationwide Participation Becomes a Trend
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the sports sector has adhered to the principles of open sports, hands-off sports, and society-wide sports, gradually forming a new model of sports development.
Open Sports: Activating a New Engine
On July 24, 2021, Yang Qian, a student from Tsinghua University, won the first gold medal for the Chinese delegation in the women's 10m air rifle event at the Tokyo Olympics. Tsinghua University exemplifies a high-level sports team run by universities. The diversified model of national team management has fully mobilized the enthusiasm of schools, local authorities, and social forces to participate in competitive sports.
Hands-off Sports: Generating New Momentum
In his report at the 19th CPC National Congress, Xi Jinping stated, "The government needs to transform its functions, further streamline administration and delegate powers, develop new ways of regulation and supervision, and strengthen its credibility and administrative capacity, building itself into a service-oriented government able to satisfy the needs of the people." Following the State Council's requirements to deepen the simplification of administration and decentralization, combine regulation with delegation, and optimize services, the sports system has steadily promoted the reform of "delegation, regulation, and service." This reform involves both reducing administrative power and strengthening supervision. Sports departments have proactively delegated power to related sectors such as education, science and technology, health, culture, and tourism, thereby stimulating the potential of sports social organizations and market entities.
Society-wide Sports: Opening Up New Ideas
At the Tokyo Olympics, many athletes from the Chinese 3x3 basketball, skateboarding, and sailing teams came from social sports clubs and academies. Since China's 13th National Games, mass sports events have been featured in the country's highest-level and largest comprehensive sports event, deeply stimulating the public's enthusiasm for participating in sports.
China is striving to better meet the sports needs of different age groups and categories, including children, teenagers, the elderly, people with disabilities, farmers, women, and workers. The public service system for national fitness, covering the entire life cycle and health process, is constantly being improved.
The popularity of road running events continues to grow. The number of marathons and related road running events nationwide increased from 51 in 2014 to 1,828 in 2019, marking more than a 30-fold increase in five years. After the pandemic, road running events quickly recovered, with 580 events held nationwide in 2023, attracting 5.5 million participants. The 2024 Wuxi Marathon saw over 260,000 registrations, setting a new record for marathon events in China.
Rural sports have seen significant growth. The Village Super League, dubbed “Cun Chao,”has become a top-tier sports event with over 48 billion total views online. Guizhou's "Gorgeous Countryside" Basketball League has advanced from provincial to national prominence. Rural sports events have also emerged in table tennis, badminton, and dragon boat racing. These diverse rural sports brands have become key drivers of rural revitalization through the integration of sports and tourism.
Sports activities for people with disabilities are becoming increasingly diversified. Events such as the Disabled Fitness Week, National Special Olympics Day, and the China Disabled Ice and Snow Sports Season have been held. Sports have become an effective way for people with disabilities to strengthen their physique, rehabilitate physically and mentally, participate in society, and achieve comprehensive development.
4. Change in Mindset: An Open, Confident, and Inclusive Great Nation
From the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics to Beijing 2022, China has evolved from "opening the doors to welcome guests" to embodying the spirit of "one world, one family," and shifting from "I" to "we." Over these 14 years, China has transformed from a learner in the Olympic Movement to a leader, becoming what IOC President Bach has described as the "new benchmark for the Olympics."
This transformation reflects a significant shift in the mindset of Chinese sports in recent years. Today, Chinese sports attract global attention with an open, inclusive, and confident posture. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, Chinese sports have achieved numerous historic breakthroughs, continually boosting the confidence and morale of the Chinese people. Consequently, the public's attitude toward sports has also evolved.
"We do not judge heroes by wins and losses, but heroes must dare to strive for the forefront and the top," said Xi Jinping. The broad era fosters colorful dreams, and "success" now has multiple definitions. People have moved beyond the "gold medal only" mentality to embrace a more open and diverse value system.
On and off the field, young athletes display wit, sincerity, friendliness, confidence, and a broad perspective, reflecting the charm of a youthful China. At the Tokyo Olympics, Zhang Yufei embraced Japanese swimmer Rikako Ikee, who had recovered from leukemia, and He Bingjiao shed tears for her opponent who had to retire due to injury. At the Beijing Winter Olympics, Su Yiming and his Japanese coach Yasuhiro Sato responded graciously to judging controversies, and Gao Hongbo, despite receiving the lowest score after an injury, raised his hands high with a bright smile. People now cheer not only for champions but also for these moments that highlight the brilliance of humanity.
The change in mindset also signifies a cultural shift. The spirit of Chinese sports, the legacy of the Chinese women's volleyball team, and the ethos of the Beijing Winter Olympics vividly illustrate the character of Chinese sports culture in the new era, providing strong spiritual motivation for the construction of a strong nation and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the content of sports activities in China has become increasingly diverse. As times progress, more sports have transitioned from being merely watched on TV to being actively participated in by the public. Enthusiasm for road running, square dancing, and ice and snow sports remains high, while activities like cycling, hiking, and camping are on the rise. Frisbee, skateboarding, and surfing are popular among young people, and fishing is no longer exclusive to the middle-aged and elderly. Sports are transforming social aesthetics and health concepts, becoming a new way of socializing.
Nationwide fitness has fueled the rise of national sports brands. Young people are enthusiastic about Chinese trends and proud of their cultural heritage. Chinese brands are making their mark internationally, with Xtep aiming to create world-class Chinese running shoes, China Li-Ning appearing at New York and Paris Fashion Weeks, and Peak's "TAICHI" series receiving acclaim overseas. In August 2022, ANTA surpassed Nike to become the top-selling sports brand in the Chinese market.
This reflects a clear manifestation of cultural confidence. Cultural confidence is a deeper, broader, and more fundamental sense of assurance, forming the indelible spiritual foundation of contemporary China. It elevates the rich and meaningful Chinese sports culture onto the international stage.
5. Ecological Change: A Just, Clean, and Innovative Environment
Since the new era began, China has been leading the healthy and orderly development of sports to continuously meet people's aspirations for a better life. This involves enhancing the rule of law in sports, persistently combating doping and corruption, and vigorously supporting technological innovation to empower high-quality sports development, thus creating a fair, clean, and positive ecological environment.
Adhering to the Rule of Law in Sports and Improving Relevant Regulations and Policies
Significant documents such as the "Opinions on Accelerating the Development of the Sports Industry and Promoting Sports Consumption," the "Healthy China 2030 Plan," the "Outline for Building a Sports Powerhouse," and the "Opinions on Promoting National Fitness and Sports Consumption to Foster High-Quality Development of the Sports Industry" have outlined a grand blueprint for achieving a sports powerhouse. Local governments have formulated corresponding policies based on these national documents, providing robust legal support for the sports industry.
In June 2022, the newly revised "Sports Law of the People's Republic of China" was approved. This comprehensive revision, the first since the law's enactment in 1995, addresses fundamental and overall issues in the sports field under new circumstances. The sports arbitration system stipulated by the Sports Law became operational in February 2023 with the establishment of the China Commission of Arbitration for Sports in Beijing. This commission resolves sports- related disputes according to the law, safeguarding the construction of a sports powerhouse. As of January 31, 2024, the commission had accepted 24 sports arbitration applications and adjudicated six cases.
Persistently Fighting Against Doping and Fostering a Clean and Upright Atmosphere
Xi Jinping has consistently emphasized the need to resolutely advance the fight against doping, promoting the awareness of winning moral, stylistic, and clean gold medals, and ensuring zero tolerance for doping. In late 2020, doping-related illegal activities were officially criminalized, marking a historic step in China's fight against doping.
Zero tolerance for doping was also a requirement for hosting a clean Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics, as Xi Jinping proposed the concept of hosting green, inclusive, open, and clean Games. China strictly adhered to this concept, promoting frugality, eliminating corruption, and improving efficiency, creating a clean model for the Olympics and reflecting the advancement of political civilization through sports.
Persistently Fighting Against Corruption and Promoting Healthy Development in Sports
To foster a new atmosphere of integrity, the Chinese sports community is undergoing a rigorous but necessary process. In 2023, several individuals, including former senior and mid-level officials of the Chinese Football Association and football practitioners, were removed as part of China's fight against corruption, demonstrating the country's determination to purify the environment and combat corruption.
The anti-corruption effort within the sports system is progressing deeply, with corrupt behavior being severely punished. The sports field sends a strong signal of zero tolerance for corruption and accountability for failure, maintaining a high-pressure stance on anti-corruption, and promoting a clean and upright sports political environment.
Persistently Supporting Technological Innovation
Xi Jinping has highlighted the growing role of technology in competitive sports. To build a sports powerhouse, achieving high-level self-reliance and self-improvement in sports technology is essential.
Technological innovation has become a core engine and strategic support for high- quality sports development. It plays a crucial role in the research and development of high- end sports equipment, enhancing the scientific level of competitive sports, promoting the intelligent development of national fitness, and upgrading the quality of the sports industry.
The preparation and hosting of the Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics showcased cutting-edge technology: the first underwater robot torch relay in Olympic history, the debut of the first domestically produced snow wax truck, the National Speed Skating Oval—known as the Ice Ribbon—using carbon dioxide ice- making technology to create the "fastest ice," and precise weather forecasting by minute and by meter for snow events. China launched 80 scientific research projects to meet with technology demands of Beijing 2022 and 212 technologies were finally applied at the Games.
The integration of sports and technology is genuinely benefiting people's lives. Technologies such as the internet, the Internet of Things, big data, virtual reality, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence provide more possibilities for individuals to improve sports performance, prevent sports injuries, enjoy convenient fitness and viewing experiences, and enrich their sports experiences.
Chapter 4: To be Continued…